That's what I've done this weekend. Our porch once had the color of pressure treated wood. Now it is a nice chocolately brown and should last longer. I'd post a pic but I don't know where my USB cord is.

Other fun from the weekend included eating Kuni's! (great as always, and last night they had a seafood salad special that was exra-awesome), eating breakfast at Amy's with somebody from my church (I found Amy's to be as good as everyone said it would be), and watching deathproof (an ok, but not great movie).

Janelle is now out buying sake and is going to make dinner, so that's pretty good, too.

Tomorrow starts three days of bachelor life as (e:Janelle) goes away for work. That means I'll have to scoop cat litter. Bummer.

1. The glasses.

2. The fact that she was the first female head writer at the male dominated SNL.

3. She was an awesome update host.

4. Mean girls.

5. She tells yo mama jokes and delivers other such similar lines as well as any guy.

6. She's the smartest person to come out of SNL ever.

7. She has quite the extensive improv background. Second City and ImprovOlympic.

8. She still does improv, quite well actually, with asscat.

9. She answers questions online at nbc.com/30_rock.

10. 30 Rock is the funniest show on tv. Each episode is packed with jokes, and yet there is still a compelling story that develops over the season (and you can watch online for free!).

1. For me, they are Fridays (I take Friday off.)

2. Thursday night is 30 Rock night. 30 Rock is the funniest, most underrated show on tv, starring the brilliant Tina Fey. (Have I done 10 things I like Tina Fey yet? Maybe that's next.)

3. At work, I try to make Thursday, "encourage the congregation day." I send letters and make phone calls. It feels good to do that, and it goes a long way in terms of building up the community, too.

4. There's a new Artvoice on Thursdays.

5. Often (e:Janelle) and I grab a beer and/or some wings on Thursday night, and I always like spending time with her (not to mention beer and wings!)

6. Janelle has a standing commitment early on Thursday evening, so in addition to quality time WITH her, I get a little bit of time to be alone.

7. Thursday in the square. Is tonight the Dropkick Murphy's? I may have to be there.

8. Thursdays are relatively chore-free. I knock out a lot of work on Friday, so I tend to chill on Thursday.

9. If this Thursday is a representative sample, Thursday is an active estrip day.

10. Thursday is named after Thor, who's hammer got referenced in the comments of (e:Janelle)'s post. Maybe today is the day that we can finally grab his hammer. "What would we do with it anyway?" you ask? Well, "if I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in evening, all over this land. I'd hammer out freedom. I'd hammer out justice, all over this land."

Why do we need a hammer for justice? Is it for the toes of filibustering senators (see (e:Dcoffee) )? I guess I never got that song. Maybe I will when I get a hammer. Please hammer, don't hurt 'em.

A good exchange regarding right wing students/political activisits at slate.com.

Here are a number of helpful tips, if you are the focus of aggressive and/or pushy people who are "sharing" their faith. Not all of these necessarily should be used every time, they are just different tools one may utilize, depending on the situation.

a. If you are in a public place, just keep walking. Like a lion, they are more likely to go after the slowest in the heard.

b. Politely explain that you are happy with your beliefs right now, and are not seeking to change them. This will not work with everybody, but it will satisfy reasonable people.

c. Politely refuse to answer any questions, and then remain silent. Most of the time, the person will be working from a script (consciously or not) that requires a response. Deny that, and he or she is in a rough place.

d. If you are comfortable lying, tell them what they want to hear. Your answer key: If you were to die today, you would go to heaven, not because you are a good person, but because you trust in Jesus Christ. And yes, you already worship at a church (use mine if you would like). (NOTE: This is the conservative Christian answer key. Mormons and Scientologists will need something different). I'm not saying that you should lie, but if you DO lie, this is an easy out.

e. If a person begins a conversation because they see that you are with your same sex partner, I would not recommend any conversation at all--the "conversation" is not likely to move past sexuality.

f. Ask for something in writing, so that you may consider their ideas at the time and place of your choosing. (I stole this one from the "how to deal with telemarketers" file.)

g. remain calm, and stick together with your friends.

h. if you really feel gutsy (and you have time), ask a person to back up their claims from scripture. A surprising number of people will not be able to do this, or will do so while distorting scripture in a way that is easy to see.

Ok, I don't really recommend this one for most people, but it is fun if you know your Bible to actually engage.

i. If you DO engage, ask about the big picture. Some people will ask you to believe/do something so specific in order to attain salvation that most people who have professed to be Christians (even some people in the Bible!), throughout time and history, would not be able to believe/do.

j. Ask questions. This is, I think, a good thing for everybody that engages. The more you can get a person talking off of their script, the more you will see who they really are.

k. Share your own experience (again, this is another "advanced technique"), due so in such a way that will not give the person ammunition, but will cause them to see you as a person, rather than a soul to be converted.

j. Ask to see a miracle. I don't really think this will help, but it might be interesting to try!

l. Tell the person that you are willing to try their belief system if they will try yours, first.

m. pretend not to speak English.


That's enough for now.