A Man For All Seasons

From the movie "Johnny English" starring Rowan Atkinson...one of my fave comedy movies of all time

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
Robbie Williams

One eye on the shadows protecting his fellows
From sun up to the moon on his back
Sending villains to Hades
A hit with the ladies
A stallion in the sack

You can’t get your life back when right follows left, Jack
The more you see the less you know
When others would leak it his service is secret
Plays God when it’s your time to go

Queen and country safe and sound with villains six feet under ground
And no one knows ‘cause no one’s found any trace of a man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
And you and I wouldn't have a clue
Who’s doing what, why, when and who
Up the creek with no canoeWatch out for the man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
But safe at home

From the House of Lords saving Norfolk broads
Commoners and landed gentry
His word is Bond with a brunette or blonde
Baby, it’s so elementary
For the man never ends, stop your life with one stare,
See the film, you'll know how it goes
This ain’t no fiction, just check the diction, quid pro quo, a pro's pro.
Hey fellas, don't be jealous
When they made him they broke the mould
So charismatic with an automatic,
Never prematurely shooting his load.

Queen and country safe and sound with villains six feet under ground
And no one knows ‘cause no one’s found any trace of a man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
And you and I wouldn't have a clue
Who’s doing what, why, when and who
Up the creek with no canoe
Watch out for the man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
But safe at home (7x)

Queen and country safe and sound with villains six feet under ground
And no one knows ‘cause no one’s found any trace of a man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
And you and I wouldn't have a clue
Who’s doing what, why, when and who
Up the creek with no canoe
Watch out for the man for all seasons
Loves 'em and leaves 'em alone...so alone
But safe at home (repeat and fade)

Psalm 31

Excerpts from Psalm 31:

"Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me....I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.....My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak...I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.....But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love....Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous. How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city....Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

Psalm 31: 3, 7, 10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23-24

Boogie Through Life

Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened.
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Pain and Suffering is inevitable, but Misery is optional.
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Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift. That's why it's called: The Present.
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A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up.
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Life is what you make of it...kinda like Play-Doh.
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The bubbling brook would lose its song if you removed the rocks.
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Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
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Everything is always okay in the end- if it's not, then it's not the end.
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If all my friends jumped off a cliff, I wouldn't jump with them. I would be at the bottom to catch them.
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A girl on the street is pointing up at the sky. 'Look, an Angel!' she yells. Passerby laugh, 'You fool, that is only a cloud.' How wonderful it would be to see Angels where there are only clouds. How sad it would be to see clouds where there are Angels.
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Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't.
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So be happy! Don't let anything burst your balloon! Boogie through life!

Memories

The 2004-2005 school year is officially over. School is done. These are my memories from the year. What a great one it was!

2004-2005:
Granite State Challenge: 4, Smith, Reagan's alive, Duracell bunny, Space Ball, Lawrence of Arabia used elephants, A-Rod impersonation, Mike Eisenhower, dirty Canadian vs. dirty Yank, non-astronaut people, Henry VIII, "Call me Kevin W..."
Dr. Gamble's class-polar bear salutes, habeas grabbus, British soldiers in bright red coats, white shoot-me belts, and gold aiming points, Caity the one and Katii the other.
Drama class: The Rabbit and the Turtle is a Bible verse, picking on midgets, Steve pantomiming unsuccessfully hanging himself, Beauty and the Beast=RC and Steve, "He's having a seizure!", "I'm Steve B...", "Sir, that polar bear is stuffed.".
"Our Town": aya, just about, right smart farm, late-night Uno's, "Kevin, buddy, you missed our exit" "No, I didn't" "Yeah, you did" "Yeah, I did", Kevin & Ryan's improv pantomime, Emily tripping over the step, Jacqueline’s name issues
John- dirty Russian, my dear little brother, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy rules!
Emily- tall gentlemen should rule the world, next to us!
Coffee House: "smart" card games with Erik (AKA War and Three Kings), we are soo sociable!
Study hall: Scattergories and Scrabble with Erik and Alissa.
Katii- I am going to be eaten by a Japanese penguin, which will be eaten by a French polar bear, which will be eaten by a Jewish baby dingo from Australia. After that, you will all say the Kaddish over me. And I am NOT the deranged Canadian who fired the first shot at Fort Sumter- you are.
Christine and Betsy: hyper and hyperer, tired and tireder.
Betsy- spraying me with water in Biology, you will become Stacy on "What Not To Wear" if what you did to me this year is any indication.
The World According to Student Bloopers in study hall and on the Eaglet: “The Egyptians built the Pyramids in the shape of a huge triangular cube…One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, gave refuse to the Israelites. Pharaoh forced the Hebrew slaves to make bread without straw. Moses led them to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Commandments…A myth is a female moth…Nero was a cruel tyranny who would torture his poor subjects by playing the fiddle to them…One of the causes of the Revolutionary Wars was the English put tacks in their tea…George Washington married Martha Curtis and in due time became the Father of our Country…Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this…Queen Victoria was the longest queen. She sat on a thorn for 63 years. Her reclining years and finally the end of her life were exemplary of a great personality. Her death was the final event, which ended her reign…Karl Marx became one of the Marx Brothers.”
"They're Canadian M & Ms." "They are NOT M & Ms!!!!"
Quiz Bowl: BQ Burger Queen, "Let's break for a spot of tea" "Boys, Carolyn, and freshman", "If you learn to drive the Eaglet I am learning to hitchhike", "We're going bowling!", Canadian intelligence pills (contraband of course), wearing togas on your head, Ricky's crazy mixed-up questions ("No, I'm sorry, the answer is..."), Erik and I hate Wisconsin, Poland, and Booker T. Washington, going 40 over the speed bumps with Mr. J, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (he doesn't just wear any sweater, he wears a diamond-studded emerald green cashmere sweater), Prodigy, Carlos the Bomber, starlight frequency, and "Meen Kampf", "Oh my gosh, there's a bug on your collar!", Erik the T... and Ricky the S..., School of Rock "You're not hardcore..." Kevin: be proud of your heritage vs. Erik, Devon, and John: stupid Canadians, Steve: Mountain Dew + Salt and Vinegar chips + three foot subs= heaven on earth, Winston Smith, beating Pat and meeting Moses, Josh's "miracle minute math", Ida-hoe-down, Margaret Thatcher.
Honors New Testament: de-Jew, hyper British guy- no movie is complete without one (Erik-you stole my line!), Computer-Typewriter-PDA-iPod of Life- what's your song?, "You foolish Germans!", Emily and Brian's "abnormally large" women, dressing Alissa up in the “full armor of God.” AKA a bike helmet, tae kwon do chest protector, belt, sneakers, plastic sword, and the wooden “Shield of Jesus/Faith”
Scrabble: hick, bro, beaners, nudist, gin, penny bets, squandering triple word scores.
Chocolate therapy in the library and my Easter Bunny!
Softball: "I'm not adorable, I play softball! Grrrrr!" LOL nice, Britt! Post-loss hyperactivity, singing on the bus (when the guys aren't there), getting "Shall We Dance" stuck in Hannah's head, wobbles, the West Side Turkeys, Ben and Jerry's and Disney songs on the bus home from Sunapee (Andrea eating a whole pint by herself!), Tumbleweed, WE WON ONE!!!
Paris and Madrid: Icing Alex, killing my knee coming down Notre Dame, puns, puns, more puns, Mr. Bonneville's stories and encouragement, losing Madame and Mrs. Chaudoin, Steve's book, The Room, my human crutches (Erik and Mr. Bonneville), Madame and her boyfriends, the Brazilian acrobat and the French guy in Parque del Retiro, Patito!, Telephone at the tapas restaurant, drinking songs, wheelies with Laura, the flamenco show, teaching Cathy Spanish, Toledo is the best city in the world, finding Meghan’s sword.
My away message: "Spending a quiet evening with the two dates of the dateless, Ben and Jerry" Betsy's response: "Ben and Jerry better be ice cream because if they are real boys where has my Carolyn gone?"
"Every girl's got a knight in shining armor...mine fell off his white horse, got lost, and was too stubborn to ask directions."
Suffering through Honors Geometry with Emma and Katy. Emma- we will laugh later on, I promise! There's got to be something!
Katii and Jeff: having marker fights & watching Mr. Connell's class playing softball after finals.
Ross: Betsy is going to make you her new project, so I recommend either getting a good psychotherapist or leaving the country. Also, I am so not smarter than you in science or math!

Anne Robertson: "The New Math"

A wonderful sermon that connects with all Christian mathphobes like me.

Anne Robertson ~ "The New Math"

Good Advice

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

English is crazy

From an email I got a short time ago, for all you language lovers out there...

Can you read these correctly ... the first time?
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The landfill was so full; they had to refuse more refuse.
4) Please polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could be in the lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier chose to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, it is time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does strange antics when does are around.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong for us to wind the sail.
18) I shed a tear upon seeing the tear in the painting.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) I need to intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, no ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England, nor French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Is it not crazy that you can make amends, but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think the first 'teachers of the language' should have been committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. How is it that people recite a play and play at a recital; ship by truck and send cargo by ship; have noses that run and feet that smell?? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down; you fill in a form by filling it out and an alarm goes off by going on. English was invented by people, not computers, and reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. This is why when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

Training Maxims

Just home from vacation in Italy with my family...had a great time...but am gearing up for final exams. So I found these karate training maxims from my old dojo. Hohan Soken was the grandmaster before the current one, and he wrote these for his students. They are really applicable to anything that requires work, not just karate.

HANSHI HOHAN SOKEN'S TRAINING MAXIMS
1. Always act in a courteous manner.

2. During training, concentrate to the limit of your mental endurance. Give your all mentally and physically as training without concentration prevents advancement.

3. The physical and mental training of Karate should be combined as one. The heart, mind, and body should be in unison at all times.

4. Heed the advice of your teacher and of more advanced students of other schools' listen to and never forget their advice.

5. Listening and watching are key points to advancement.

6. In order to advance, on must strive to obtain the true spirit of Karate.

7. Training is on a continuous basis, and one learns a little at a time. Do not take breaks in training as it will result in a step backwards.

8. Always strive for advancement and when advanced, one must not brag or boast.

9. Self-praise and over-confidence is a sickness that corrupts training.

10. Refrain from over-eating, drinking, and smoking, for these bad habits hinder the effectiveness of your training.

11. Karate training has no limits. Step by step, study by study, and one day in the future you will undoubtedly enter the temple of the Shaolin.

Hohan Soken (1889-1982)