Photos! Boo-yah!

Spontaneous abstractions, for your spontaneous enjoyment! Hurrah!





























Those are Christmas trees, believe it or not. :)

OK I was going to post more, but I must go.

To Whistler!

Dan

Permission

"What should you do if you see a red octagonal sign?"

Uh, stop? Maybe?

I finally got my permit on Friday! I could have gotten it way back in August, and I've just been lazy. I'm kicking myself about that.

Right, so I didn't get that exact question on my test, but they were really easy. I got the first fifteen right and then it quit on me! It said I passed and to go away now. Basically.

I wanted to finish it though, see if I could get all 18 right! Stupid thing.

My very first parking job:



Incredible, right? Have a nice day.

Dan

Wealth

I'd like to get some of your opinions about the stock market. I'm wondering if I should invest, or not. I have a bit of savings built up now, so does anybody know any companies that are on the rise, or about to introduce a new product or something?

Oh, I should probably tell you my budget - that might affect your analysis. Look, I'm not trying to brag here, but...

Six dollars and thirty-three cents. Yep, that's the gargantuan amount of money I have to my name.

:)

Dan

Jump Up and Down With Me!

Cyber-jumping-up-and-down could be really fun. Is there gravity in Cyberspace?

Right, so I guess I'm going to have to give you an excellent and convincing reason for the aforementioned potential exertion, or it'll never happen. Yes, I'm calling you lazy.

To make a long story very short:

Go on, click on it!

Then Zoomy-Zoom in. You'll be amazed...

Oh yes. Look at that powder baby! That's Flute Bowl. You have to hike to get there, but once you do...

I'm praying for a big powder dump right before we get there. And powder dumps every night while we're there. And then clear, sunny days. No problem for God, I just hope that he wants the same thing...

Can you believe it? Me neither. I'm going to Whistler!

For those of you less learned in the realm of snowsports, Whistler is the biggest ski resort in North America, maybe even in the world. (Those stiff-headed Europeans measure their ski places differently, so we'll never know...)

8,000 ridable acres. Thats like, bigger than Rhode Island, right? OK, maybe not, but still...

And a mile vertical drop.

A mile! That means the elevation at the bottom of the lowest run is a mile lower than the elevation at the peak! It's mind-blowing, really. I'll be snowboarding there for 4 days. I'm leaving the 31st, coming back the 7th.

How about a story? Stories are always fun, except when they're not. OK, so some of you may know that I used to live in North Idaho and Washington state until I moved here 3.5 years ago. That's where I learned to snowboard. On real mountains, yes. One year, I had a season pass to a nice place called Silver Mountain, and I went about 12 times that season. It was awesome. Well, then I moved here. This is the highest ski resort in Pennsylvania, where I busted three bones in one fall, at the terrain park. I hate terrain parks, I'm no good at tricks. But here...well, they're about the only exciting thing.


The places in PA all make their own snow, which in turn turns to ice, which breaks my bones. I hate snowboarding on ice. That's why I'm so excited about Whistler:

Powder, not ice.

Yes.

I just thought of a sweet joke.

"More powder to ya!"

You know, like, more power to ya...

Right, so I'm about done, now that I've successful lowered your IQ by at least 10 points...

Dan

:(

It's time for the infamous "I'm The Worst Blogger in the World, I'm Sorry, And Here's a General News Update" post.

But I've done that too many times, so I'm not going to do it again. I'm going to try and do this right. As I see it, blogs aren't for news updates on my life or what I've been doing. They're for me to share things I think are interesting, and my opinions. I want this to be a place where you can go when you're bored and find a wealth of peculiar and interesting things to read or look at or do. So here goes, once again...

Dan

All The Things I Meant To Blog About

I was going to blog about how amazing the Jars of Clay concert was.

I was going to blog about how cool the guy who opened for them, Matt Wertz, was.

I was going to blog about the rocking-ness of the song Peter, Matt, Ben, and I played Saturday night for the BMA Arts Festival.

And I've been meaning to blog about open-face-peanut-butter-and-honey sandwiches for like, months.

Why haven't I? It's a question that I don't even know the answer to. Well, kinda. OK fine, I do. I'm a lazy bum.

Maybe I'll catch up one of these days. Stay tuned...

A Conversation

Ceci: That makes me think of chapter seven!
Me: What?
Ceci: Your face!

She was serious, too. Not like a joking "your face."

Oh Yes.

I'm going to a Jars of Clay concert at 6. It's going to be amazing, I just know it. Wow.

Mysterious Skies

Me: Hey Dad! Come take a look at this one!
Him: Uh...It's blurry.
Me: Yeah!

And so you begin to see the difference in the photographer's eye, and the photographer's mind. Where I see a dream, another dimension maybe, you may see only that the birds aren't in focus. Where I envision them crossing into a cloudy, mysterious frontier, you may tell me there's too much blank space in front of the subject.
















So, what do you see? What kind of eye are you?

Dan

Nikki Fisher is Cool So I'm Blogging About It

Right, so this is exactly how it went.

Nikki: You should post more often.
Me: OK, I'll blog about how cool you are.
Nikki: Yeayahahayay!!! (at this point, she jumps 4 and a half feet into the air, hitting her head on the ceiling, all the while flailing her limbs in wild joy).

And so you see - Nikki is cool! She's so unique and interesting, which is a good thing. And she always has a "hi" and a smile for you walking down the hall!

Dan

Winter is Coming

We feel it in the wind, howling about our ears.
We see it in the trees, being stripped of their beauty even now.
Yet, there is no sign of this bleak season in our souls;

March on, winter! Take the earth into your icy grasp!
You shall have all but these hearts, for here there can be nothing but warmth.

-Dan, 10/29/06

A Quote!

"food... the ultimate controller of Dan's emotion, lol. Keep a pie handy at all times in case of necessary immediate deployment."

-Justin

And, I'm still alive, yes.

Check it out!

• This guy is really good. He's definitely an inspiration to my guitar playing-ness...and he's playing my dream electric guitar: the Taylor T5 Custom with a Hawaiian Koa top.

• So, last Sabbath Peter and I went to a nursing home with our guitars, unscheduled, unannounced. It was a little awkward at first, but that dissolved quickly enough. We played all their favorite hymns, twice; they forgot we'd already sung them. They were so happy and appreciative and everything...it was a really good experience for me. Hopefully we'll get the chance to do it again soon...

• I've been devoid of photographic inspiration for some weeks now. It's honestly depressing...I went to the Schuylkill River yesterday on the way home to see if I could get some shots with the fall colors, reflections, etc., and I failed miserably. I didn't get anything I had envisioned, and it was quite frustrating. So I guess I'll have to show you a photo from about a month and a half ago:

You guessed it, I don't have a title for this one either...if you have an idea, well, you know what to do.

Have a nice day.

Dan

(A) Self Portrait

I really feel bad that the majority of this post is occupied by my face, but I think the photo is kinda cool. Right, so here it is.

A Photo (or 2) and some New(s)!

To bean or not to bean. That is a question!

Right, and this is a picture. Hoo-ray. I need a title for this one, so (to quote Jack Johnson), dust off your thinking caps! Yes, and go right ahead, click on the picture. It won't bite, I promise.

• New(s) item number one: I'm not completely sure what to write here. Maybe I'll think of something, if I just keep typing. So I'm just going to keep typing, or something. Ah! It worked! If you haven't already (it's all the rage), check out this ever so free music. I had been skeptical, seeing as it was free, but I actually ended up really enjoying it. :) <- Hehe.

Brace yourself, because, well, you just did something extraordinarialistic. You were treated to the first online viewing of the above photo! Right, so you can breathe now...Oh, and you can also try and guess what it is! [Insert evil grin here]

• New(s) item number 3! This time, I already thought of something, so I don't have to keep typing until I think of something, like I did last time. You see, there's a certain artist of the musical type that I've been listening to quite a bit lately. He goes by the name of Sufjan Stevens, which, in a rare and never-before-seen coincidence, also happens to be his real name! It's great music! Check it out.

So, I'm being kicked off the computer.

Dan

Updating-ness

OK, I am officially a very, very bad blogger. At least it's only a week and a day this time...count your blessings!

Jars of Clay's album Good Monsters is excellent. I listened to the whole thing, in order, without skipping a single second, at Peter's today. I also listened to See the Morning by Chris Tomlin, and I was not impressed. I might have liked it alright if I didn't have Crowder to compare it to, but...I do. And thank goodness for that!

I always knew Peter was a good musician, a good songwriter. I just didn't realize how good! Ladies and gentlemen, this guy is amazing! The songs he writes are so beautiful, and so heartfelt. I count myself extremely lucky to be able to work with him musically...I can't wait until we can start playing these songs to the wider world, because I know so many will be blessed.

And now, a Random Photo for Your Random Enjoyment!

The above was taken at the one and only Laurel Lake Camp, of the one and only Cody McCabe, also known as Slash McCube! Let it be noted that the above is also a member of the critically acclaimed Guitar Nerds!

Oh, right, so you want to know about Cody and my adventures last weekend at LLC! The majority of it can be summed up in one word, or rather, more of a sound:

Shiver.

Yes, that's right. A shiver. The cold was biting, but we were prepared...that is, prepared for sunny, nice weather. I mean, seriously, who expects it to be freezing in October?? Forget about global warming, kids! Zero degrees is back in style!

Right, so I had only brought one thin hoodie, and Cody only brought one thin sort-of-a-coat. And our fingers? We could hardly feel them while trying to play. We spent most of our time huddled around the Hamburg pathfinder group's campfire, and, well, eating their food...

But the singing - the singing was wonderful! These kids really knew how to drown us out, and we loved it! Do Lord was one of the best. We couldn't hear ourselves in the least bit!

So, it was good. Very good. And...next time I go somewhere in October I'm going to take my winter coat. And a few blankets!

Dan

OK, so Cody and I are headed out to Laurel Lake. You know, just for kicks... no really, we're doing the musicality for the PA Conference Pathfinder Camporee.

Cody is here. Say hi to everyone, Cody!

"Hi!"

OK. Now we've got that out of the way, so we're leaving. Have fun, or we will, or something.

Dan

Failure to Post

I've failed, and I'm sorry.

No, I don't see myself as a failure in general! Rather, I've failed as a blogger. Miserably. Atrociously. Appallingly. Dreadfully. Horrib- OK, nevermind, you get the idea.

What kind of blogger posts nary an update for 17 days, or two weeks and 3 days? Yes, you answered correctly, a heinously criminalistic blogger! (Don't ask how I knew you answered that. I just do.)

OK, so before I fully persuade you that I am a flagrant idiot who should be forever shunned, allow me a few lines to make excuses. School has been nothing short of an academic frenzy, and I actually have to work at work this year. In addition, for about 3 weeks I was (so cruelly, albeit deservedly) banned from the computer at home.

And yet, through it all, I could have made time. I could have found a way.

Therein did I fail, and I can only hope that you, my beloved (albeit few) readers, will take a mind to forgive me. Your forgiveness, in partnership with my noble and courageous efforts attempting to erase the memory of my ignobility, shall yield better results from now on.

Dan

?

Rainbow in Rust 12/30/05

Unless you've delved deep into the troves of my Flickr photos, you've probably never seen this photo. Why do I post it? Firstly, because you've never seen it, and you deserve to either like or dislike it. You also deserve to tell me if you like it or not.

Slightly more accurately, and also secondly, I post it because it looks confused. And I sympathize with it, because I feel confused. [insert wise and profound analogies linking every aspect of my life to every aspect of photo here] Why am I confused? I don't completely know. Am I even confused, or am I just faking myself out? Hmm...confusing.

Perhaps, confusion isn't the word for it. Sure, it's part of it, but not the complete-ness. So add in a little discouragement, tired-ness, apathy, etc...the bottom line is that I'm not feeling too great.

Again.

You see, joy is what drives me in life. I usually feel joy in so many ways. For example: a peanut-butter-and-honey-open-face sandwich. I can usually find joy in anything, wherever I am.

But today, today I feel no joy. And I don't know why...hence the confusion part. I'm also noticing that when I feel no joy, I have no motivation to do the things I must do - homework, etc. And now I'm wondering how to end this post interestingly. But I don't think I can. So I'll just say goodbye, or something.

Dan

p.s. I'll live, don't worry.

Dreaming of...

and i'm dreaming of
a life where i could
sit with my guitar under the
beauty of the sunset
and just soak it in

the music and the colors
and my soul are one, together with
the God that put
the life into them all.

-dan, 8/25/06


So, I'm doing a little better than my last post. I haven't found tangible answers, but somehow I just feel encouraged, which I don't mind at all!

I had a wonderful afternoon, walking and talking in the rain with three for a little while, but mostly two of my very best friends. It was such a great bonding time for us. The interesting part: we had left our cell phones at a dry place, not realizing that it was getting late and nobody could reach us. Well, apparently people had gotten worried, and they were out searching for us. Needless to say, I felt a bit foolish. But it was totally worth it for the awesome conversations we had. Oh, and I also jumped in the reservoir. (for anyone who doesn't know, it's a freezing cold thing that used to be BMA's swimming pool...and I mean freezing cold.)

Peace and love and such things,

Dan

Mixed Feelings

So, I start school tomorrow. I'm a Sophomore now - a 'wise fool.' Although, I'm not so sure about the wise part...

I love the social aspect of school, and I'm looking forward to this year in that regard. I'm also excited about the leadership opportunities I'll get, and spiritual experiences I'll have. Yet, somehow, I don't feel ready.

I feel that this year will be a sort of crossroads for me. Either I'm going all the way in for God, or I'll reject him all the way. I'm sick of this in-the-middle stuff. I feel like I really need to figure out what I actually believe, too. Problem is, finding the motivation to do it...

I just feel really lost right now.

Dan

Someday, I wish to be one of those this poem speaks of...

gracefully twirling, spirits are swirling
gliding, their feet barely touching the floor
the violin swells, and within them wells
the purest of love, and yet purer desire
to dance on forever by the light of the fire.

- dan, 6/15/06

He Showed Me That He's Still There...

...and it couldn't have come at a better time.

You see, I haven't been doing so well since I got back from camp. I set out on my own again; I thought I could still have all those happy feelings of love and joy towards God, but I didn't bother to spend time with him. I struggled, as I had before camp, to find the motivation to be "good," to deny myself and do what's right. I'm still struggling with it, and it will always be tough for me. To make a long story short, except for listening to Crowder every day, I've pretty much left God out in the cold and filled the space up with...well, very un-christian things one can find on the Internet...computer games...angry guitar playing...hours at a time working on my photos...etc.

Did I really fall that far already? How did I go from the amazing, joyful, spiritual experience at camp to...this? The answer to those questions depresses me. I feel confusion, shame, anger, pain, emptiness, all of it mixed up at once, threatening to burst through these walls that are bitterly trying to stuff it all in. I can't keep this up. I can't live life like this, especially because I know what it feels like to be filled up with God. My heart wants it, but my hands keep moving that shovel, burying God under meaningless nothingness.

But in spite of all that, I know he's there. He showed me.

And here's the story you you just waited and waded through all that for. Sorry to be so conventional, but I think I'll start at the beginning: Sunday I went out to Blue Marsh Lake with my Dad and two wonderful friends for a great morning of wakeboarding and tubing and such. After we pulled the boat out and were about to leave, I was untying a rope on the bow of the boat, and I set my cell phone on the bow while I worked with the rope. As I did it, I thought to myself, "I better not leave that there, or its gonna go flying off and die." I finished with the rope, and got into the van. As we pulled into our yard some 30 minutes later, I made the sudden and horrifying realization that - well, you know what. My very bright and clever friend had the brilliant idea to call my phone from his. A strange voice answered. For some reason my Dad wanted to talk to them, and this is what he learned:

They were Philadelphians driving out this way for some reason, and they were hungry. So, quite fittingly, they were driving along road looking for something to eat. Finding nothing, they stopped on the side of the road to turn around. And that's when one of the noticed a phone on the shoulder of the road. Evidently, they had picked it up, and kept going. That's when we called. They were headed the other way from where we live, so we arranged for them to leave it at a gas station, and we would pick it up soon, which we did.

This is amazing for several reasons:

• My phone, which happens to be quite slickishly smooth, stayed on the front of the boat (which happens to also be quite slickishly smooth and on a bit of a downward angle), along a bumpy road for a few miles before it fell off on the main road.
• While Samsung may get as much credit as God one this one, the phone survived a nasty fall with only a few scratches and bumps that I actually think are very, very cool.
  
• These people were hungry. How rare!
• They happened to stop to turn around at the precise place where my phone had fell.
  
• They were nice people; most people would probably decide to have a frolic with my monthly bill, calling all their friends in Japan for hours at a time.

At first, because I'm stupid, and stupid, I tried to attribute it to luck. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that there's no way mere co-incidence could have anything to do with this.

So, God really does care about little things that matter a lot to me, like my phone. I really think my phone is the sangfroid-ness ('coolness' so you don't have to look it up), and it means a lot to me. Maybe in a different way than my stuffed Polar bear, but nevermind that.

You know, the more I think about this whole thing, I feel, albeit inch by inch, closer to God. And wow, I feel better now. Much better. Time for some Crowder, eh. Some happy Crowder as I drift...offf....tooo.......s...l.....e.......e...........p..........

Dan

p.s. Prayers would be so much appreciated.

New-Blog Smell

You know, like 'New-Car Smell'. The little freshener tree that you hang on your mirror...the one that's supposed to cover up the smell of that 2-month-old half-of-a-burger stuffed in the seatback pocket. How deceptive!

But then there's real new-car smell. I've never smelled that smell because we've never bought a new car, ever. That stinks, doesn't it? Hehe. But anyway, this stuff is the real deal, man. And, this blog is the real deal.

So, this goes out to all my homeslices out there with either type of new-car smell going on in their rides. Peace out. Haha...

Dan