Happy New Year...I hope

So, it's almost 3 hours to midnight and I'm at home alone waiting to go to Jake's house to do whatever for like 2 and a half hours till midnight, and then drive home and sleep in. And no, I'm not gonna watch the Rose Parade. Blah blah blah. I will, however, definitely watch some college football!
I haven't really decided why I'm not enamored with New Years Day, but I think it's just highly overrated. How's that for an unqualified statement? I mean, people get rowdy and drunk and shoot fireworks everywhere; they even have a special New Years Cops episode, showing all the stupid things people do on New Years. Yeah, what a legitimate holiday! The only redeeming value is...you guessed it...college bowl games, baby!
As for New Years resolutions, this year I have one. And I'd like anyone and everyone who reads this (probably about 2 or 3 of you) to keep me accountable and ask about how I'm doing. This year, Amy and I are gonna read through the entire Bible, so that's my one and only resolution.
Here's to 2005: may it see better sports outcomes for the Gilmore family; better commitments to God and His Word; better commitments to friends and family; and more consistent posting on this blog!
Happy New Year everybody!

I feel like I have to...

I guess I gotta leave a post. But this will be my shortest ever. Summary of the past few days: God is good, so is work, and I love reading. Peace

Hello readers of this great blog! I'm in Santa Maria right now and it's raining like the dickens, and it's supposed to rain here every day for the next 10 days! Tonight I'm driving home by myself in the pouring rain, so that oughta be fun.
It's also gonna be raining for most of the week back home in Santa Clarita, so that will make working interesting as well. For Christmas I got several gift cards: Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Borders, and maybe another one. I surprised even myself by getting a Playstation 2 game, but it was well worth it. Pandora Tomorrow is the sequel to Splinter Cell, which was an awesome game.
I got four Tom Wolfe (excellent nonfiction writer) books, but I want to take one back. I got some soundtracks, which I'll take back but get better ones instead. I already bought The Passion of the Christ soundtrack as well as Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack.
Christmas was great, as we had 16 people at my Grandma's house. My aunt Cindy, her significant other Ed, and her sons Chris, Tyler, and Alex all left yesterday morning, though, so it was quick.
I got to talk to my family about Israel and show them a bunch of pictures last night. It was enjoyable and challenging to remember all the pictures. After that, I talked to uncle (who is unsaved) for probably at least an hour and a half about Israel, their politics, their Judaism. Then, it morphed into Jewish views of Jesus Christ, how and when the Gospels were written, and finally it settled into me showing pictures of Prague and Berlin and more discussion of Europe and American politics and origins. It was a good night, and the first time I'd been intellectually challenged since I've returned. Also, it was good to talk to my uncle about things pertaining to the Bible. He is very intelligent, but can't wrap his mind around faith. So please pray for him!
Ok, time to go eat and read a bunch before I leave tonight.

Is it really almost Christmas?

I really wonder if it is many times during the day, because it still doesn't seem like it to me. Probably has something to do with the fact that I was away in a foreign country for a semester, and have (seemingly) been working non-stop since I got back. I haven't had time to sit down and really ponder too much of anything.
Well, today I worked all day from 8 to 4:15ish. Just normal stuff: replacing sprinkler heads, taking down old lights, vacuuming, etc. Tomorrow I gotta work the same hours, unless I have to go in for jury duty that is.
Then, Friday I'm working for around only 4 hours Lord willing. That night, there's a Christmas Eve service at Church and the next morning we open presents here and then immediately head up to Santa Maria to Grandma's. There, we'll open more presents, see relatives, and the like. My boss, Mr. Cormier, is graciously letting me stay a day longer, so I'll now be coming back home on Monday evening instead of Sunday. The rest of the family will follow suit on Thursday, probably in the afternoon.
I got paid today, which was very nice, considering I've been looking at all the beneficial ways to spend it. Basically, that means on bills/loans/yay!
Ok, well gotta run. Tonight is my only, I repeat, ONLY night of Christmas shopping. It should be fun!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

I'm sorry, I really am!

So I guess whoever reads this has figured out already that I'm not doing to well at posting things. It's this blasted dial-up!! I have no time to do all that I have to. Especially the last two days because I've gone down to the church to play basketball literally less than hour from the time I left work (at said church!) and got home.
It's been good though, because it's getting me in a little better shape, and it's good to feel busy without the pressure of a looming final or paper or something else academic.
Once again, I'm sorry for the brevity of this post, but I shall make amends in the not-so-distant future.
I'm out

OK so i lied...

I said I'd make a post much sooner, but I didn't and for that I'm sorry. Anyway, this past week was filled with lots and lots of work, which is a very good thing. My hours haven't been so normal, but I'm OK with any way to make money right now. I'm finally over jetlag and I'm now able to discern when I'm full or not. All this great American food at first was overwhelming. After rice, potatoes, fish, and veggies at the moshav, horrible fast food and whatnot has become vastly overappealing.
Tonight I've gotta call and see if I have to even show up at the courthouse tomorrow for jury duty. I'm praying that I won't have to, because I really need to make money this week. I figure that I can make a little more than $1,000 dollars this Christmas break, which will virtually all go toward my car payment and school.
On another note, all this "Happy Holidays" stuff is getting to me. I make it a point to tell people "Merry Christmas." This morning in church, Pastor Pete challenged us to go one step further, and to give the gospel whenever possible. That was a good challenge, and I am praying that God will give situations in which I can respond.
Ok, well...there is a Raider game on, and as much as they stink to high heaven this year, I cannot help but go watch my much maligned but still much loved Raiders. I'll post tonight when I find out about jury duty.

Quick one from back home

Hey everybody and anybody who reads this blog. I'm back in Santa Clarita, and today I dropped off Amy at LAX to fly home. At this time she's still in Georgia, waiting to connect to Albany and then home. We had a great 3 days here, and a lot of fun.
I'm still jet-lagged and feeling it right now even though it's not even 5 pm yet. I've still yet to clean up the mess I've made or organize anything I've brought home from Israel. I've got bills to pay, mail to look at, books to read/stack, and I start work tomorrow morning. God is great and he's provided a good bed to sleep on and some scrumptious food made by my mommy. Hope all is well for whoever reads this. I'll write another blog tomorrow probably.

p.s. I miss you Amy!

Uno mas

Ok, so the quick news is that I just aced my Modern final, the one I was most worried about. I got a 98%, and I'll find out about the class grade within the next hour and a half. My last final, History of Ancient Israel, is in an hour and a half, and I haven't studied as much for it, but I've still got time.
I haven't even thought about packing yet, and I'll be working all afternoon/evening on the year-end show that's at 8. After that's done (well into the wee hours of the night) I'll finally be able to sleep. Last night I was up till 4:30ish studying, and so far it's paid off, except for the massive pain/knot in my lower back. It hurts even when I walk, but God is gracious and it's not that bothersome.
I'm looking forward to possibly sleeping on the plane(s). I haven't been able to sleep well on them yet, but maybe in the completely exhausted state I will be in will help me to do that. Hope I'm not so much of a mess that I can't drive on Saturday a little bit, or on Sunday too. That's right, Amy's gonna be staying at my house Saturday, Sunday, and then leaving on Monday for Massachusetts. That'll be fun.
OK, well pray for our safe return. See ya all soon!

One down...two to go

Well, I just finished my first final; Jewish Thought and Culture. I think I did pretty well, hopefully an A- or better, which means I'll probably get an A in the class! That would be two. I guess I'll find out tonight.
My last two finals are in Modern State of Israel and History of Ancient Israel, which will both be killer finals that will put Jewish Thought to shame.
So I haven't even thought about packing yet, and I really hope I have room. I didn't buy anything to big so I should be OK in that category. Right now I'm in the library sending out a mass email with a bunch of Europe pictures.
Hey, so if anyone checks this, leave a comment for me at least this time, so I know that SOMEBODY other than Amy checks this!
Oh yeah, and the biggest, baddest news of the day is that Cal got royally jilted by the BCS. There is no doubt in the minds of every sane person outside of Texas that Cal should be in the Rose Bowl. Now I can't go see 'em in action! UUUUURRRGGGHHHH!! Oh well, I guess they can do it again next year. Tough to swallow.
OK, back to emailing and then a little nap!

i'm a hacker

like the title? yeah, this is amy... not happy... but he said i should make that the subject. so, i did. good story huh? this is so weird. i'm just determining what this team thing does. cool. i think i like it. adios.

Let's Give It a Whirl!

Hello to anyone and everyone reading this!
I thought I'd give this blog thing a try, mainly because my girlfriend has one and it looked pretty fun. I'll try to keep it up regularly, even a few times a week hopefully. I guess this place is kinda a little bit more public than email and kind of easier to keep up, since anyone's message will be posted. I've only got 6 more days in Israel, and tons to do up until the "year-end show" on Thursday night. Friday, I plan on going to the Old City one last time (sniffle) before starting the long voyage home the that night.
Well, that's all I've got for right now. Hopefully I can make this fun and enjoyable and meaningful. See most of you soon.