I feel a little better today, but not much. I don't think I will go to work this afternoon. I left Spanish class early yesterday, and emailed the prof to explain the situation. She was understanding, saying that she hoped I could make it to the test tomorrow. I think I may ask her if I can take it on Monday, since I have not been able to study at all for it. I have no idea what I am going to do for Judaic Studies, since I have a paper and a shorter essay both due soon, and have not started on either. Oh well.

I hope everyone is doing fine. Peace...

One advantage to being sick, and leaving Spanish class early today, is that when I got home, the U.K Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was being replayed on VH1. We watched most of it Sunday night, but I am thrilled to have just seen Alanis Morrissete sing Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" again. She was great. Also, the tributes to Pink Floyd and The Who are upcoming. Sweet. Even if I do feel like crap.

Peace...

I have been feeling quite miserable for the past few days, so I went to Health Services today to get checked out. The nurse almost had a spasm when she looked into my left ear, saying that I had one of the worst ear infections she had ever seen. She wondered aloud how I was not doubled over in pain. I responded that I was indeed in a great deal of pain. Have been since Saturday. Anyway, 1 Amoxicillin scrip later, and I was miserably on my way home.

I have a Spanish test Friday, and I see no possible way I can study tonight. I should get the results of last week's philosophy test tomorrow. The prof announced that he is going to drop the lowest test score. I made an A on the first test, and a B- on the second. I am fairly sure I made an A on this one. If I make an A on the final, I should get an A for the class. Cool.

When we were at Michelle's parents' house, her dad helped me fix my windshield wipers, and change the antifreeze in my truck. That was nice of him. What he doesn't know is that the next time we go there, I am bringing some new shocks and struts with me. LOL.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

We got back from our Thanksgiving odyssey about 9 last night. Last year, after we nearly killed ourselves trying to please everyone by being everywhere at the same time, we vowed to never do that again. Our vow did not last long. We again tried to be everywhere and see everyone. So, by the time we got home, we were exhausted and irritable. Anyway, it was certainly great to be able to see everyone we did. It was also great to be back home.

On the way back home, we stopped in Jackson, TN for dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse. My brother Steve gave me a gift certificate about 2-3 years ago, and I figured it was high time I use it. LOL. We proceeded to have one of the worst dining experiences ever. The hostess was quite snotty, and the waitress was incompetent. Also, I ordered my steak "well done" and it came bleeding so profusely that I wondered if the cow was still alive. So, I sent it back, and by the time it came again, Michelle was almost done with her meal. So, I guess it will be a long time before we eat at the Longhorn in Jackson again. Unless someone gives us a gift certificate.

I have a ton of work to do today. I have a quiz and a test in Spanish this week. I also have a Judaic Studies paper due soon, and I have not started on it. Also, there is always some philosophy to do.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

Last week, we bought a new queen-size bed. We are really enjoying it. I have had trouble waking up in the mornings...LOL. We also put new tires on my truck, something that had needed to be done for about a year. The old tires were to the point where the steel belts were showing. That's bad. So, we got a set of BF Goodrich's put on, and everything is cool.

I have a major test tomorrow in Philosophy 2. I am so not ready. I also have a ton of Spanish to do. Lots of homework, some online workbook stuff, and we have a quiz Monday, then a test next Friday. Jeez.

I got the syllabus for my Israel trip next spring. I have to read 3 books by the time we leave. We also have several class meetings in January and February. This is going to be a lot of work. Michelle decided not to go, since there is no way the class will give her any credit toward her degree. Her decision saddens me a great deal, because it just won't be the same without her. But, I completely understand her decision.

We are saving up for a tour of Japan and China in 2008 that we would like to go on. We are really excited about this opportunity. I spoke with the man in charge of the tour, who lives in Iowa, and it turns out he knows my grandmother. That was so cool. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us.

My three-year-old cousin Claire is battling for her life right now. It was discovered that she had a tumor on her brain stem, and although that was removed, she is still in a lot of trouble. She is going to have a tracheotomy performed, and a feeding tube inserted into her stomach. No one should have to endure this, especially not a small child. Please pray for her and her parents.

I am making a QuickTime movie of her, so if you have any pictures of her, please send them to me. Thanks.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

It's been really busy here, so I have not had time to post in a while.

Michelle and my sister Jessica share the same birthday, which was this past Wednesday. Michelle and I went out last night to our favorite place, the Belmont Grill. One of her classmates, Sophia, met us there and all had a great time. The entire restaurant sang "Happy Birthday" to Michelle, but I missed it because I was in the bathroom checking football scores on my cellphone. Boo.

We went Christmas shopping yesterday, and we now are almost completely finished. The only gift remaining is Michelle's gift to me. I am hoping for a video iPod.

I registered for Spring 2006 classes this week. I will have several philosophy classes, a Spanish class, a math class, and my study trip to Israel over Spring Break. A total of 18 hours. Joy.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

I needed a new flux capacitor to keep up with this Delorean.

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I am at the Apple Store, waiting for the iLife tutorial class to begin. I want to learn how to make cool video productions from the home movies we take.

I have concluded that the world would be a better place if everyone had a little more cowbell.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

I have been pondering something for a couple of years now, and I have reached a decision on it. I have decided to pursue a PhD in philosophy after I finish seminary. As far as a career goes, I will seek a research/teaching position at the university level, and serve a small church on a part-time basis.

This will satisfy my need/desire to work on important issues within moral ethics (capital punishment, abortion, et al.), and provide job stability for my family. Job stability has become a rare commodity within my denomination, as several congregations have recently either fired or forced out their ministers. This is going to be a really long road, and I ask for your prayers of support.

Peace...

Sister Helen Prejean, author of the book "Dead Man Walking", is speaking here in Memphis later tonight, and Michelle and I are going. The movie based on her book has had a profound effect on my life, causing me to take a serious look at the way I view capital punishment. In fact, seeing that movie may have been the genesis of me becoming a philosopher. Although, it certainly was a delayed reaction!!

I also have a big test tomorrow in Philosophy 2, so I am nervous about that. As fate would have it, we have been talking about capital punishment, looking at it from the points of view of several different philosophers, including Kant, Mill, Confucius, and some other commentators.

I finally got my Judaic Studies paper back yesterday. It has been so long since we submitted these papers, that I cannot even remember when it was. Anyway, I got an A, so that was a big relief. Turns out the month of October has a ton of Jewish holidays, so the professor was not in class much the past few weeks.

There was a guest speaker, Elliot Chodoff, on campus last night, talking about the situation between Isreal and Palestine. It was quite interesting. Apparently, the pro-Palestine faction that was there had a counter-point meeting of their own later last night, but I did not go. Probably a good thing.

I have noticed that my comments have dropped to almost nil lately. It would be nice if people would start commenting again.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

What is wrong with this world?

Click here for the Longest Computer Start-Up Sound. This is hilarious.

At 3:00 today, I have a job interview. I am hoping to ditch my on-campus job for a better-paying gig somewhere else. Wish me luck.

Wednesday, I have a baseball game at Christian Brothers University. The head umpire in this area, Jim Herbert, will be there to evaluate me. This will go a long way in determining what my schedule looks like next season. Wish me luck.

I have a paper due soon in Philosophy 1. Wish me luck.

I seem to be needing a lot of luck. LOL.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

Our Jack-O-Lantern is sooo scary.

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I got both of my tests back today. In Philosophy 1, I got an A, and in Philosophy 2, I got a B+. I was a little upset with myself on Philosophy 2, mainly because I did not pay attention to the instructions and cost myself an A. The instructions were to answer 1 question (yes, only one question on the entire test) from 2 different points of view. We were to answer it from Immanuel Kant's viewpoint using his Second Formulation of the Categorical Imperative, and from John Stuart Mill's point of view using Act Utilitarianism. Then were supposed to give our own opinions about the question. This is where I screwed up, because I forgot to give my own opinion!! When have I ever failed to offer my opinion?? Dare I say "Never!"? Anyway, I was so proud of absolutely NAILING Kant's and Mill's viewpoint, that I strutted up to the prof's desk and with a smile, handed in my blue book. It was a few minutes later, while on the phone with Michelle, that it occurred to me what I had forgotten. At least I only lost a few points; nothing major. Anyhow, now I will have to work extra hard to make an A for the semester. I had pegged this class as an A at the beginning of the semester. My goal is to make 3 A's and a B, which would put me on the Dean's List. That will be cool.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

It feels like a Monday. Blah.

Fall Break will be officially over at 8 AM tomorrow, and it has been a ton of fun. Friday, as soon as I got out of class, we headed up to Missouri, to spend a couple of days relaxing. We had a nice dinner Friday at Lambert's Cafe. After dinner, we cruised around, listening to a high school football game on the radio. Saturday, we went to a corn maze, and had a blast. We came close to solving it twice, but had to give up. Neither of us had packed water, so we were a little dehydrated after spending over 2 hours working on the maze.

We ate at Lambert's again Saturday (given the option, I would eat there every day!), and then headed on home. We got back in time for me to see the second halfs of the Notre Dame/USC and Florida/LSU games. Flipping between those games, and the baseball playoff game was a hard work!

Tomorrow will be a busy day at school, as I will turn in a paper in Judaic Studies class, and will get back at least one, and maybe two philosophy tests. I have two philosophy classes, and it is a little difficult keeping them straight. One is at 8 AM, and the other is immediately afterward. So, I just refer to them in my mind as Philosophy 1 and 2. Simple enough.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

I seem to be surrounded by paradoxes lately.

Michelle's interivew went great, although it was weird to see her on the news. Someone in one of her classes recognized her. That was strange.

This weekend is fall break, and it cannot come too soon. Mid-terms have been tough. I have one more test tomorrow, and a paper due next Wednesday. Thankfully, I have got most of my paper done. Just need to double-check a couple of things, and put my name on it.

We are going to Branson, Missouri this weekend. My favorite restaraunt in the world is there, Lambert's Throwed Roll Cafe. Michelle has never been, so I am trying to get her prepared for the insanity that is Lambert's. LOL. We are also going to visit a farm that has a corn maize and night-time golf. I have never been to a corn maze before, so it should be a lot of fun. Night golf is always great, too.

I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...

I decorated the rear window of Michelle's car.

A major story in the news here in Memphis involves a local high school student who was forced to give oral sex to three classmates. One of the accused is a star football player (one publication has him rated the 20th best college prospect in the country). The victim decided not to press rape charges, instead agreeing to a plea bargain where the football player plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. The football player was initially suspended from the team while the case was sorted out, his coach saying all along that the player should have been allowed to play. The player asked for a hearing in front of the school board, and his request was granted. Before the hearing took place, the school board decided to restore his eligibility (without a hearing).

Michelle got really upset about the situation, and sent an email the School Board, and to one of the local news stations. The School Board member who represents the high school where the girl and football player attend was quoted in the newspaper as saying, "I don't really want to get involved", said in an email that she "does not feel [the football player] is guilty of rape. So, the School Board member is under fire, and Michelle is pissed. The news station called Michelle earlier today, and arranged an interview. The interview is going to air on the news tonight at 6.

When this thing first started, I had horrific visions of Michelle staging a sit-in, and being arrested. I had a vision of her being dragged, against her will, across a street. So, I am glad that it has not gone that far. I also feel extremely proud of Michelle for standing up for what she believes, and voicing her opinion. I told her that many people who may share her opinion may not have the courage to speak up, so that she is speaking for them. Hoorah!! The first amendment is in action in the Winn household!!

Peace...