Better than fiction.

So I come to the most random realizations sometimes.

I was watching Chronicles of Riddick with some female friends last night, and they were remarking on how muscled and studly Vin Diesel is(Yes, it was awkward.). So I asked if I could make similar comments about the women in the film. Well, they said it was different because they are girls, but they did give me permission. But at that point I was struck by a realization. I really didn't find any of the actresses that attractive. And I suddenly related the reason for this to the Ontological argument for the existence of God(Strange, I know, but bear with me.) One of the major facets of this argument is that Reality is inherently better than anything created by our imagination(That's not the whole argument, that's for another post sometime.). So, a real apple is inherently better than the apple I'm thinking about. I may think that an actress is pretty, or that her character has a great personality, but that image on the screen or in a magazine or on a billboard will never be as attractive as the girl sitting across from me. Simply from the fact that the girl sitting with me is real. (And, you know, because she's actually sitting with me, and not thinking I'm a creeper or something. lol)

So... that's my thought for the day. I hope you enjoy.

-JK

Oh, and comments are great! Really. They help me know I'm not just sending this to the oblivion of cyberspace. Feedback is essential for writers. Not so much for musicians.(See... that was a joke! Haha)

Travelling Man

Maybe you've seen me talking about applying to be an RA, maybe not. Maybe you're thinking 'Hey, you'd make a great RA' or maybe you think I'd be terrible. I think I could do it well, and have a lot of fun. But I have another option for next year that is a considerably bigger opportunity.

You remember that class I took in January? The one in New Orleans? The one that I graduated as honor grad? Good. Well, the certificate I received from that class qualifies me to be a Field Support Representative(FSR) for Tapestry Solutions(a Boeing company) in Afghanistan. Well, in the US, Germany, Kuwait, Korea and Japan, too. But that's not important right now. What is important is that if I were to be hired for this, it has the potential to be a huge boost for my career. To be a contractor at my age is pretty big. Not to mention the paycheck, and the experience for my resume.I believe God gave me the skill to do as well as I did for a reason. Anyway, all that to say I'm considering applying for that position, and I'm looking for wisdom, advice and opinions regarding this. So pray for me, friends.

Thanks,
-JK

EDIT: Bad Stuff(Possible)
-Postponing my college education yet again(Though I could take online courses)
-Imminent Danger
-I might decide I like it and stay there
-May have to quit the Army
-uhhhh... that's all I can think of.

Dovah-think

Alduin helps Dave think. Lord knows he needs it.

Let There Be Food!

Finally! One of the main things I wanted to share with this blog was my adventures in the kitchen. And now I've actually had time to cook something up.

I made up some chili-mac for my friends last night. They all liked it a lot. Way more than I expected. It's a family 'recipe', if you can call it that. It's not precise, just a collection of ingredients mixed to taste.

The simplest way to make this is to take leftover chili and mix it with macaroni and cheese. I didn't have any leftover chili, so we used Hormel brand from the store and browned up some extra hamburger to give it more beef. (Haha)

Tips and tricks...
Use plain macaroni and add Velveeta to the sauce.
Use lots of garlic.
I use ancho pepper and chili con carne fro Penzey's to season the beef. These both have little heat, so they provide a good base flavor and you can add chili powder to the sauce later.
Garnish with cheese and sour cream. Because why not?

If you'd like a more comprehensive list of ingredients, let me know!

Vandals!

My board is the outlet for all my floor's graffiti.

Gemini

At the Maquoketa Caves State Park in eastern Iowa.

Weathered

Overlooking the Cedar River in eastern Iowa.

Storm Front

This was a summer storm from my friend's farm in Indianola.

Life

Some of you know that life and I don't get along very well all the time. A lot of you know that I am often frustrated that I see my friends(read: y'all) living or getting from life what I've always wanted.

Now, let's stop the train right there. Because, really, I've wanted two different lives. On the one hand, I'd kill for what I see(in my mind, this is not a judgement on anyone) as the 'average' life. Go to college, meet a girl, settle into a career, happily ever after, blah blah, blah. You know that story. That's what I saw myself doing when I graduated High School. That has not happened. The other life i wished for was to be someone wild and adventurous. You know, a bounty hunter, or a war hero, or a US Marshall, or something else that's super awesome. That didn't happen either.

So i sit here in this life I'm living, and I envy my cousin, who starts Army Special Forces selection today, and I envy all my friends who are getting engaged and married and buying houses and all that other stuff I wanted. While I look at my life and say 'what the hell?' because I'm nearly 23 and I live with my parents, I'm a freshman in college, I'm older than most of the seniors at my college, etc.

But.

Then i get a friend who hits me across the face and says 'look at it this way.' And he shows me that While I haven't gotten what I wanted, maybe I got what I needed.I learned life skills- I can make espresso, I can fix most things on an automobile, I know basic and some advanced first aid, I can reliably use most any firearm, I know about supply lines and logistics and how to be prepared, how to evaluate risk, respond quickly and effectively in stressful situations, and probably a bunch of other stuff that I can't even think of right now. The work I did overseas would probably get me a better than Entry Level position with any company that deals with supply and/or shipping. I have established my name as a capable soldier in more than a couple high-level Army circles. I have volunteered, served, led, planned, organized, executed, succeeded, failed, been praised, been reprimanded, and I have always taken responsibility for my actions, whether there results were good or bad.

My life was not what I would have foreseen, and definitely not what I would have picked for myself, given that ability.It has been an adventure, full of twists and turns and surprises, And I would change very little of the past 5 years.

So i raise my glass to you, life. Let us see what you have in store, for I am not sitting still.

Evening Glory

The view from my room on the last night in Louisiana.