w00000000t!!!!!

GAH! SO-MANY-BIG-THINGS!

Its MARCH--FREAKING--BREAK!!!!
And in approximately 13 hours I'm going to be boogying my way on down to Detroit to catch a flight to Tanzania, Which for those who are geographically challenged (or American... sorry, I just couldn't help myself... for the record, some of my family is American... so no real hard feelings)... now I've lost my train of thought...

... oh yeah!

!!!!ITS IN AFRICA!!!!

GAH! TOO EXCITED!!!

We're going to be spending three awesome weeks with my uncle and his family in Africa hanging out... doing some camping on the Serengeti... chillaxin' on the beaches of Zanzibar (where I apparently have to bring back some sand from... o_0;) as well as some other schweet stuff. Gah! exciting.

Ohohoh! AND in related news... MY CAMERA HAS SURFACED FROM ITS HIDING PLACE!!!!!!!! YAYS!!!!! That means.... PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (many thanks to my brother for that)

mmmm.... so in other news...

Hansen just did this... so in honour of the great internet art of mimicry...
Michael needs...

1. Mum (???!?!)
2. a life without... something
3. one crisp story
4. a girlfriend (not!)
5. toilet paper
6. his weed
7. a light-razoring?
8. help... now
9. to find his place again
10. YOU! (I find this amusing...)

I've noticed that my writing here is a little... random. To put it lightly. Cool.
I'll try to fix that. Maybe.

Anyways, I actually have to get back to packing. So I'll leave it here.

Catch y'all on the flip side!
=Mike=

God and Tetris

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
-Philippians 2:12-13

How often have I let things get between myself and God? Too often have I let myself slip into a mindset where I think that I can do things without God or keep Him out of my day to day life. Too often have I put things of this world - video games, books, school, friends - above my relationship with my Saviour and Redeemer. Far too often have I let these things fill up my life like so many coloured blocks.

Our relationship with God is like a game of Tetris: life throw us distractions and we have to consciously work to clear them and keep our field of focus clear so that we can keep our eyes on Christ. We have to work continually to persevere, mature and grow in out walk with Christ. And like in Tetris, the further we grow in our walk, the more difficult life's distractions become to ignore and yet the more we are enabled to deal with what is thrown at us: in Tetris because we become more accustomed to the rhythm of the game and in our walk because we are empowered by God.

So may you persevere in your walk and keep those coloured blocks at bay
Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17

Catchup, a Launch and What is on My Mind

So, two months later... lol

So what has happened in the last while?
Let's do a quick run through.

December:
Christmas, obviously. A kind of hectic period of time... driving down to London, driving up to Ajax, driving back to the Pdot, driving back to Ajax... followed by a drive back to the Pdot... whew. However, Christmas with my family is always exciting... and I think Seana was excited that she wasn't the only non-Foster at the huge family blowout. It was fun. And crazy.

January:
Exams. Those were fun... not. But I'm glad to see French gone... its not that I don't like French, I just disliked the teacher. A lot.
January was also turn 18 time. Yes, that's right; I'm now legal. w00t! I can... vote??!? There are other things I can do too... but I really don't want/need to.
Another anniversary was in January: Seana et moi have been going our for one year now (well actually, more than that now now, but meh... close enough). I haven't really talked about Seana much here... so there you go, now you exist on my blog ;o).

Other than that... I've just been making it through school, trying to get homework done... get my University stuff all finished (I hate PSEs, officially). Ohh... and I launched another blog... yesterday... so now I have to work twice as hard to keep up to date, lol. Not actually. My other one is where I am putting on display some pictures of what I get up to and any schweet graphics I feel like designing. So, I present to you Ma Vie en Photo (in French, just because I can).

And now for some things that I have been following lately.

1. CoS vs. Anonymous.
• This hasn't really been making a huge splash in mainstream news coverage, but in the online community, the war between the Church of Scientology and the (so called) hacker group Anonymous has been really interesting to follow. You may or may not have heard about the protests that were held world-wide in front of CoS centres, but this whole thing really threatens to shut down the CoS, or at least change the way it operates today. If you want to know what is going down, check out Search Engine (CBC Radio).
2. Fifth Business.
• I usually don't enjoy books that I have to do for English class (Shakespeare excepted). However, this book is just so fantastic that I can't help but like it. If you haven't read it yet, you have to. Though I may just like it because I identify myself as Fifth Business... but you will have to Google it, Wiki it or read the book to find out what I am talking about ;o).
3. Do Hard Things
• The Rebelution book comes out in APRIL. YAYS!!!! I am so psyched for this book... they have an excerpt available on the Rebelution website and it reads absolutely fantastic thus far. If you haven't heard about the Rebelution, I highly recommend checking it out.
  

Umm, so I think that's about it for now.

Have a very awesome day
Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17

---

More Comikz

I love snowmen. And I love Calvin & Hobbes. Put them together...?

For the Winter Season

Concert tonight. YAYS! Playing in a quintet. Clarinet, alto and tenor sax, bass and keys. As well as the concert band. It should be... interesting to say the least. And hopefully playing-in-the-snow-full... :o) I heart snow.

A Christmas Tale

All is quiet on a hill
The wind whispers, blowing where it will
Long sighs fill the night
Sleeping herds make quite a sight
 
Suddenly, they're bathed in light
Sheep and shephers stand in fright
Swirling stars descend from high
Fiery angels fill the sky
 
singing a chorus of "Gloria!"
The shepherds fill with euphoria
Then with sudden vigour they run
to Bethlehem, to meet the Son
 
Running through the pre-dawn street
Yelling to everyone they meet
Coming to the stable-cave
And Jesus Christ who's come to save

Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17
 

White

White blanketing the ground
blanketing trees, roofs
as smoke curls
from the gaping mouths of chimneys.

Dark clouds part
like curtains after the night,
after a deluge of chips
of heav'nly frost.

I wake in the morning -
As the sun begins its lazy ascent –
to light glancing off the white;
a kaleidoscope of colour.

Beauty everywhere.

Out my window lies a tree,
dwarfed by the powder encircling.
It's green a promise of life

vibrant and full in spite of chill.
A survivor in the winter kill.
A time of joy and not of sad,
there is much in white to be had.

Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17

Star-lit

Cloudless. Perfect.
The moon reborn
Perfet darkness
Pierced by a milky band

Biting cold
The crunch of snow
A well trod path
Marking where to go

Stars in their flight
Twinkling. Dancing.
Look up in the sky!
They're filling the black
with heavenly light

Stand on a hill
Watching heroes of old
A testament to their Creator
In each ancient form

Andromeda, Hercules
Orion the great
Cassiopeia, the Bears
And Boötes to shepherd them all

Under a canopy of lights
Shooting stars as they fall
Standing there in awe
In wonder of it all

Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17

Lights and Sounds

Colours play against a blank face
Red and blue and green and white
Chain him where he sits

Captured by lights and sounds

Drama's twists and soap opera sleaze
Captivate a dead imagination
As she rests, a slave to fantasy

Captured by lights and sounds

Tin-canned laughter,
Moans, jeers and groans
Bend a will to emotions not felt

Captured by lights and sounds

An Orwellian reality defined by whims
Of moguls who laugh as the world
Pays homage to a glowing oracle

Captured by lights and sounds


Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17

Sunshower

The storm breaks
Rain pours down, drenching to the bone
Lightning flash and thunder roar
Darkness rolls in
Piercing the sky like the keenest knife
This is the darkest moment of my life

But then the sun breaks through
Scattering light through the dark
Then sun brakes through
And the sky blooms to life

This life breaks
Pain pours down, drenching the soul
Mocking jeers and laughter roar
Darkness rolls in
Piercing my heart like the keenest knife
This is the darkest moment of my life

But then the Son breaks through
Scattering light through the dark
The Son breaks through
And my soul blooms to life



Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17

An Update

I'm not actually supposed to be posting this.
 
Really I should be on a train (or at least, getting off the train by now...) to Montreal. I am supposed to be spending the next six weeks in Quebec working at a camp (I'm still not sure what I'm going to be doing...) and learning french. FON. I am actually excited for it, however it has been delayed by the Aboriginal Day of Protest and the fun time of having the railways blockaded. Sweet, eh? So, I'm leaving sometime tomorrow, but I don't know when.
 
Exams are over (obviously) and therefore the school year is finished for yet another year. While that is exciting, there is a bit of a bitter pill that goes along with it. My music tearcher, who is also my absolute favourite teacher, has taken a job at another school in Bowmanville. The band didn't find out 'till yesterday at our band breakfast. There were lots of tears on her part and on the part of others in the band. The school isn't going to be the same without her. However, we are getting a new teacher/conductor and that will be an adventure.
 
Its long weekend time. I'm going to be in Quebec for Canada Day, which the sepratists will surely make interesting...

I'm out,
Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17
 

flOw

So, after writing my french exam (which took all of a half an hour to do...) I had nothing to do and found this on the computer. FON! And mildly addictive...

Play flOw

Psalm 23

A little different from the version you're probably used to...

Psalm 23 in Jamaican

The Lord ah mi one boss, an mi nuh fi want nutt'n.
Ah Him ah prevent mi from tell off people everyday.
Ah Him ah gimme peace, when so-so madness a gwan roun' mi.
Ah Him ah remine mi fi pray an fi do everyting widout complain, murmur nor kiss mi teet.
Ah Him ah remine mi dat ah Him, noh mi job, ah mi source, aldough lickle more pay woulda nice.
Ah Him ah stap mi from mad a daytime, an' ah guide mi decision dem, so mi can honor Him inna hev'ryting.
Him ah prevent mi from shoot up di whole place, an' tun' all mi supervisor dem inna some duppy, so mi no haffi go ah prison, an' live mongst ah bag ah battyman nor get heng.
Even dough mi get one hole heap a e-mail, fool fool deadline fi work wid, have some co-worker dem whey a chat mi behine mi back!, some big heediat fi supervisor, an' ah ol' body dat kyaan' mek it a morning time, mi nah give up because Him deh wid mi!
Him presence, Him peace, an' Him power ah go si mi throu.
Ah Him ah raise mi up, even when di heediat dem nah promote mi hard working self, dough mi ave tree set a degree an' diploma.
Ah Him claim mi as fi Him own, even when di company ah threaten fi fiah mi, an' me ah threaten fi light wan fiah an' bun di hole place ah grung.
Fi Him faitfulness an' love betta dan any bonus check (but yu si mi, a check woulda elp out some time).
Fi Him retirement plan betta dan every pension plan outta road, but mek anybady try rob dis place yah an yuh see wha 'appen out yah tiday.
When unnu done talk; Ah Him mi ah go wuk fah fi wan long time
So Tank Yuh Lord

-Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17

STAY OFF THE SIDEWALKS!!!!

So, exciting news in the land of Mike... I went to take my test for my G2 yesterday (after only, what... 17 months??) and passed!! w00t!!! So I can now drive on my own... look out pedestrians, here I come! jk...

In other news, there is only 9 (or is it 8...) more school days remaining before exam-scariness and then... SUMMER!!! As to what I am doing this summer, well that is still up in the air. The Summer Work Exchange people have yet to get to me, and thus all my summer plans or any summer plans I might make are on hold. Blah. I'm thinking I will give up on them soon and just do my own thing, get a summer job or what-not. I could go back to HV (4 Life!!!) but the parentals are not so hot on that as I am now driving and there are all sorts of nice expences which go with that. FON.

Anyway, today is the Junior High pool party for the grade fives, which should be fun, except for the slight wind-chill which is not so much. But it will all be good.

Waiting for summer,
Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17

Soooo...

So, I've decided that I can at least post *once* this month... lol, I have been both too busy and lazy to post for over a month, but FUN! I'm doing it now.

What have I been so busy with you ask? Band mostly. From going around doing fundraisers to delivering the goods to going to New York, yes ladies and gentlemen band has been crazy. Not anymore as it is now over (*tear*) but it was crazy...

New York you say??? Yes, New York. The Big Apple. Metropolis. Gotham City. The hometown of many a superhero and many a villan's evil plots. No worries, nothing went down while I was there. From 6:30 wake up calls to 11:30 nights, it was an amazing 5 day whirlwind adventure in the big city. And so much to do! The Empire State building is pretty sweet and gives you a nice view of the entire Manhattan area (on a good, non-smog-y day of course...). Time's Square with the hustle and bustle of THOUSANDS of people. The fact that the number of people in the city at almost any given time is higher than the population of our fair country (mind boggling that...). The Statue of Liberty, the Time Warner building, Radio City Music Hall, Juliard, Carnegie Hall, the Met Opera House in the Lincoln Center, The Met Museum of Art, BB King's Blues Club, STOMP!!!!, Chinatown, Little Italy, SoHo... so much to see and do in so little time. We of course went to Ground Zero and my personal favourite place, Central Park. AHHH!!! It was amazing!

What else... oh yes, coming back to school and being unloaded upon in terms of homework (which I really should be doing now...lol), that was fun too. Trig Identities... w00t... ;D

So much, so much... and summer just around the corner.

I was thinking about making some changes here, and probably will be doing so as soon as I figure out the code for them, lol.

Anywho, I'm off to do homework...
Toodlez!
Mike

Awakening

Check out the newest vid. from Switchfoot... sweet...

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Sometimes life is tough. Everything can be going well and then suddenly... BAM!... a family member is really sick, a friend had been in an accident, you're struggling with something huge, or some other major tragedy has happened. And you're sitting there thinking, where's God??

Why is it that we always jump to blame God for everything bad that happens in life? I guess it seems so easy... we can't see Him, and therefore we believe that there will be no retaliation for using Him as a scapegoat.

It is a really strange phenomenon. The Bible is full of examples of how much God loves us, how he knows how when a sparrow falls and that we are far more precious than any sparrow. He knows what is in our future and has a plan for us, no matter how dark things seem right now. I love the hymn

YAY!

I don't know how many of you have taken Drivers Ed. but I can tell you this... the in class is so BORING it is hardly to be imagined. I mean, it is seriously time consuming and, depending on who you get in your class, a loud and waste of said time.

But it is over!!! YAY!!!!

Only thing is... I now have to wait about two weeks to start the in car.... yech

Anyways, that has pretty much been my whole life for the last while... not a whole lot interesting...

Blah.

Mike

Designs

So yeah, I was basically bored at home all week due to a loss of wisdom (teeth, lol) and so I made this. Enjoy. Oh, and I am feeling quite rosey with their removal and am once again chewing, though not chomping yet... alas for my apples! Or at least my stomach...

Mike

PS

Sorry, a thought ocurred to me... if you want to check out the first seven songs which Switchfoot played at that concert (the ones on the LEGAL bootleg CD they were selling) or at any of the concerts they have played/ will play (as soon as the tracks become available) check out http://switchfootbootlegs.com. They are all there.

Cheers!

Michael
________________________________

Brother in Arms
Proverbs.17.17