google voice

I just got Google Voice! My number is 732-698-8636. If you already have my cell, go ahead and stick with that, but this is the number I'm giving out from now on.

Now, a brief diatribe on why this makes my life just a little bit more awesome than it was before.

When you call the number above, it will ring all the phones that I have linked it to, based on a schedule that I've set (e.g., don't ring at home while I'm at work). If you're an unknown caller, it'll ask you who you are, and then tell me who you are before asking if I want to connect. I can also send & receive SMS texts through that number.

I think my favorite part about it so far is voice mail. It provides its own voice mail, and I can access it from any phone or online. Online, it transcribes voice messages into text, so I can read my voice mail. It's like a step up from the iPhone's visual voice mail. Also, it alerts me via e-mail and text whenever I have new voice mail.

So far so good. I don't know all that much about it yet. I'm sure as I continue using it, I'll learn more.

punch ball kick ball

It's been a while. More than a week. At least I haven't completely abandoned the blog.

Some time ago, I made a Facebook status update about Punch Ball Kick Ball, and since it seems no one really knows what it is, I've taken it upon myself to provide a description of this great game.

The game of Punch Ball Kick Ball (to be referred to as P&K ball from now on) is an unfailingly amazing variation of kickball. As you hopefully know, kickball is essentially baseball with a bigger ball and no bat. P&K ball is nothing like baseball. It's just awesome.

First off, the reason it's called Punch Ball Kick Ball is because when a player is up, he/she can elect to hold up his/her hand to ask the pitcher to bounce the ball rather than roll it, so it can be punched rather than kicked. The main advantage is that you can punch it directly down, so you don't get out because someone caught it. But kicking has a big advantage too for the more athletic types.

P&K ball can only be played indoors (in a large gymnasium) for its full effect. If the player kicks or punches the ball behind the basketball hoop, it's a "field goal" worth 5 runs. Getting the ball in the basket earns the team 10 runs.

One thing that makes P&K ball so much fun is the way the bases work. Unlike baseball and kickball, in which only one person can be on a base at a time, there is no forcing in P&K ball - as long as there's room on the base (typically pretty big, like a mat), anyone on it is safe. Also, stealing bases is allowed at any time (to even the odds a bit, the defending team can peg runners dodgeball style).

The bases themselves are also a lot of fun. They're not just places to stand. A lot of them are various gym-type obstacles that runners have to climb and jump off to proceed. And after arriving at "home," the runner may elect to either stop there and get back in line to kick/punch, or keep running - back to first base and around again. So unless the player gets tagged or pegged out, he/she can keep running until the inning is over.

Innings are also longer, or feel longer, because each team gets about 10 outs before they have to switch sides. They still go pretty fast since the defending team can peg runners at any time, but ending scores are usually pretty high.

I think that's about it. Great game. Played it in middle school - Fords Middle School. I miss it a lot and wish I could play again. Unlimited running, obstacle course bases... what more could you want?

Also a great way for the gym teachers to keep the kids active and engaged, I'm sure.

what a blast

Just had a great weekend. Visited cousins in State College, PA, as well as my niece Anna, and the whole trip was just magical. In addition to the great things we were able to experience in State College, it was wonderful to spend time with the cousins, and definitely worth the four-hour drive to see that cute little girl.

Ate Austrian food for the first time, and it was good. Not much in the area of plating design, but definitely delicious. Fun place to eat, too.

Also got a chance to do some shooting with my cousin's shotgun. Didn't even have to pay to use the range. Pennsylvania's got it's perks.

Stinks that it was such a short visit. Need to go again soon.

titles that have nothing to do with the content

That does happen sometimes. For instance, my post from earlier today. I shall explain.

To put it briefly, it's inspired by a line from Relient K's "Be My Escape."

What I failed to include previously is that it's only thanks to God's grace that I was able to recognize the deficiencies in myself to get to a place where I could clearly see that I was heading in a direction away from where I need to go. And of course only thanks to God's grace that I could even hope to turn things around.

The line I love from the aforementioned song is "the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair." I think that line is brilliant, because how often do we groan about life being unfair? Most of the time, when we say that life isn't fair, it's in reference to something we don't like.

But if life were completely fair, we could never be saved. God made us perfect, but we messed it up. In order to bring us back, He had to tip the scales. He sent Jesus down to take our punishment (death) for us, and allowed us the opportunity to appear before him blameless, if we would only accept that gift and recognize that Jesus took the payment for our wrongdoing. That's cheating. That's not fair. But I thank God for it every day.

Something I like that my pastor has said:
Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don't deserve.

Thank God life isn't fair.

thank God life's not fair

I don't know what's wrong with me. Started with a cough, but now my head gets dizzy sometimes too. And the cough's gotten worse. Robitussin ain't helping too much. I hope it's not a flu of any kind. I don't feel like taking any days off, but I also don't feel like getting my colleagues sick.

Weekend's been pretty good so far, aside from being sick. Awakened my inner child at an indoor amusement park on Friday. But then after dinner realized that it's time for me to make a decision as to the type of person I'm going to be. Time to man up.

While driving home from dinner, I started to realize that for some time now, I've been flirting with the line between being a true Christ follower and being someone who just shows up at church on Sunday (or Saturday, as the case may be). It's rather like what C.S. Lewis wrote about in Mere Christianity when he discussed the worldly Christian who considers himself more "sophisticated" than his Christian friends, yet rests in the thought that unlike his heathen friends, he has a place in Heaven. I was convicted by that when I read it about two years ago, and I'm still kind of in that rut. I certainly enjoy hanging out with friends from church and such, but I still find myself subscribing to the world's perspective on having fun (i.e., bars, clubs, lounges, etc.). And the funny thing is, even though I'll go to these places, I never really have a good time. In fact, I don't know why I even keep going.

True, I haven't really done anything that compromises my values, but I sense that deep inside, there has been a real willingness to do so, given the chance. And Jesus said that whatever evil desire you have inwardly, you've already committed that sin. So I'm definitely guilty on all counts there. And if I don't turn around, thoughts will translate into actions, and those actions will make me into someone I now realize I never want to be.

I can think of two main ways men can interact with women. Men can either focus on having a good time with them, or treat them as friends (or, of course, ignore them). Certainly there are rewards for both approaches, but Friday night taught me that the rewards for the second approach are much better. It also taught me that until I make that Rubicon decision to act and think and live rightly, I'm lacking power and authority, and I'm a wimp. Until I man up, I can't speak up when I don't like what's going on.

I've decided to make a change. I will no longer be lenient on myself regarding sin, whether in thought or action. I'll no longer let fear of making it awkward or looking stupid or anything stop me from speaking up against what I know is wrong. If I don't like what's going on, I will do something about it, so help me God.

It's gotten too hard trying to stand without a backbone. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I'll grow one.

back to it

Kinda missing that every day deal, but I'll try to make up for it.

Weekend was nice. Went to a block party in Kearny, joined in a picnic/pig roast with our friend's church. Ghattas showed up too, got to catch up with him a bit. We were planning to watch the New York fireworks on the Hudson, but mom wasn't feeling too good, so we headed home. Interestingly enough, she was feeling better by the time we were in Milltown, so we just parked and went to watch fireworks there.

We thought that it would be cool to watch fireworks up close, so we were pretty psyched when we found a spot close to where the fireworks were being fired off. However, it was a nice show for about two minutes before we realized that we should probably not sit so close next time. The view is great until the residue starts falling on you.

Went to a graduation party Sunday after church. Good times. Playgrounds are fun for all ages. Or maybe I'm just a big kid.

Just watched Gran Torino. Great movie. Now I feel like watching all the Dirty Harry films.