If weasels were easles

Thoughts on weasels...

Ashley Newton:

Ashley: don't worry! we are not underwater
me: good, lots of rain?
me: been pourin here
Ashley: oh yes
me: no thunder though
Ashley: weasels and weasels of rain
me: hahahaha
me: been rainin cats and dogs and weasels?
Ashley: i think life would be more interesting if 'weasels' was a unit of measurement'
Ashley: it's much more exciting than ounces, or inches


Also...

Eagles may fly, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines

Tales from Concord

So last night, after work, i headed to the Gibsons' and Ben and i shot some pool. My first game was very good, and i beateded him. Yup. We watched Jay play japanese anime. Then we decided that since the library was prolly closed after 10, we'd go see how late Harris Teeter was open. We spent 10 minutes in the PopTart isle comparing favorites and brand choice before moving on to sodas, where we found glass-bottled Cokes... YUM!!! So we purchased them and with no further ado (remind me to pontificate later on how dumb an english spelling that is for a word pronounced that way) continued on to Hollywood Video. We looked at every single new release and almost every oldie, and settled on All the President's Men. Did you know Reverend Camden was in it? HA! That's what i thought. Well he is. On the way back from getting it, we drive through the neighborhood between Hwy 29 and Weddington. We turn a corner and find ourselves stuck behind a 1950's Ford in the middle of the road (mind you, it's not all that narrow, and had he been in his lane [no, it's a neighborhood, so no painted lines and it was kinda late]) we coulda gotten around. Alas, no, he was dead center of the road, filling his gas tank from an old gas can. The poor old man, as we moments later ascertained when he pulled in his driveway, was only 100 yards from home when he ran out. The more amusing thing though, was not even that this man, as old as he was, was out so late, or mid-road, or out of gas, or happened to have extra in his truck. What was most amusing was that when he turned to look at us, he was smoking... as he filled his tank. Yay Concord. That reminds me...
Two fish are in a tank. One turns to the other and says "you man the guns... i'll drive"

What is it that binds us to this place...

Quick update on the last few days... So i've been working for days upon days at the dreaded indoor pool. It's been a blast, as usual. i made it up to Chapel Hill Sunday night to see important peeps. Saw my sisters and (in alphabetical order): Alex, Amy, Anna, Brian, Caroline, Caroline, Devin, Duckworth, Heather & Molly, Kincaid, Leigh Ann, Matthew, Megan & Lisa, Mike, Rachel, Sam, Sarah, Seth, Steber, The Pot head Couple, and Wes. Was a grand visit, albeit brief. i totally miss CH. i just got back from Invincible with Ben and his pal, Robert, who tried out for American Idol (he might be on TV, so stay tuned). Anyways, i highly recomend it. Great movie, great football, great music, and hey, the Dallas Cowgirls get some screen time (more than the Cowboys). You must have time to go see it if you're reading this. And if you never saw V for Vendetta or Inside Man... why didn't you? Seriously.
PS: photo was not taken on most recent visit
Pee.Pee.S. (for you Nono and Patrick): the prank call on the radio talk show this morning was to a girl who was DD for her other 35-yr old gf's the other night. One of the drunkies peed on the wall of a gas station as it was late and it was closed. So, another one of the drunkies called the station today and told them to prank the driver. They told her she and her car were caught on serveillance, and really had her going about a court date. That girl stood her ground though and wouldn't rat out her friend. A fellow DD i can stand by. You go girl!!

To Pee, or not to pee...

So i spent the first 4 or 5 hours at my mothers school today, splicing and cutting and connecting coaxial cable. i also got to discover a new fruit and have a 6 year old throw up all over his tray beside me in the cafeteria. Twice. i then left for the Y to work 3-9pm. Well, as i arrived, i went to the bathroom, because i really really had to go. i'm only there 15 minutes when my boss, Lisa, informs me that she thought i was never coming back and fired me. She really needs me this week though and was delighted i was back and all she needed me to do was fill out those bloody W-2's and to go take a drug test immediately. Yay. So i drive over to the place by NE Medical center to give them a Urine sample. Wohoo. Unfortunately, having JUST gone to the bathroom, i knew it was not gonna be easy, so i'm in the waiting room guzzling water like i'm trying to leave none for Free Willy. They call me back and i go in and no matter how much i think about niagra or sing Row Row Row your boat, i can't pee. That's when the lady tells me, "hey, hurry it up, we close in 5 minutes, it's friday." Grrrrrrrreat. So they had to send me over to Urgent Care by the ER and explain to them why i was there. Even more fun. So i sit in their waiting room for 45 minutes, guzzling more water. When they call me back, i nearly peed the cup right out of the nurses hand. Oh, that felt good. i'm really glad it came out that way because, to be honest, i was gonna throw up if i didn't pee. i get back to the Y and i had had so much water, i immediately had to go again. Ain't life grand? Then i have one of these "man, i'm old moments." A kid i had when he was a Cub Scout in Day camp, and i was his counselor, comes strolling out of the Y. Mind you, i had him when i only had my driver's permit. He hops in his Honda, and drives off. YIKES!!! Life is weird. Well, like Billy says...

The grass is always greener
When you water with your weiner
Outside

Peace and long life, and may the force be with you

If you haven't ever visited your Hebrew Professor in Jedi garb, you really don't know what you're missing (let alone the local post office... in august). That's all i'll say. Coincidentally, it is also another important day because it is Gene Rodenberry's b-day. i know, most of you only think of Caroline Craig on August 21st, but that indeed would be leaving out his great achievments, which could easily be overshaddowed by Caroline Craig. God bless ya both. i wrote the one that is alive and well, while watching Star Trek (derek hakokav): Generations and studying Hebrew... Sorry for the long pause (like you would know). Great guy here from Montreat college, taking Greek this summer, just got dumped by his GF of 3 years. Poor guy, pray for him, he's a good man.

Shabbat Shalom

So another Sunday... Yes, i did indeed make it to church today with a slightly reasonable bed time and Noell getting me up. i had a major migraine though from before the service untill well after lunch time. i had to leave after the sermon was over and stand outside. i took a few Aleve (which did no good), got in a great Bruch with the gang at some little bar/brunch place. Our waitress looked like Mary Martin/Peter Pan. i took some Excedrin Migraine and crashed for a couple hours. Then it was study time before we did the birthday thing for Tiny. More vocab to study. There are chapters where i know all but 3 words, and chapters when i only know 3 words. It's very scary. Pray i pass my final...

Got Dar Williams stuck in my head...

Toolin' Around

Well, i stayed up late watching Stir of Echoes with Tom. The girls were too scared to watch it at 1am. Oh well. We had fun, got up way late today. Took the Old Man's car and got over to Ukrop's for some food and made Chicken Dijon, Different Rice, and vegetables. It went over well. Then took the Old Man's car again to get me and Noell and Jess over to Cary St for ice cream. Then Vocab study and later we'll either watch something or go see Princess Bride at the Byrd on Cary. i rolly have not described it yet on here, so i shall. The Byrd is an old-style movie house from the old days of the first silent movies and has never been anything but a movie house. It's huge and ornate, seating at least twice as many as a typical theatre. It has fake side alcoves like opera house boxes and chandaleres on the ceiling. They play one movie, which changes every week or so. However, on Saturday nights, they play the movie 3 times during the afternoon and evening, and then throw on some throw-back at midnight (it's been Ferris Beuler's day off, and tonight after Davinci Code, will be Princess Bride). When we went to see X-men a few weekends ago, we discovered that on Saturday nights, they also have a man to play the huge organ in front of the screen before the movie. It rises out of the pit in fromt of the screen and the man plays Phantom of the Opera-type tunes for awhile before the show. Wow. The atmosphere is amazing. And what might an impovrished seminarian pay for this incredible evening of enrapturing music, cinema, atmosphere, and nestalgia? Two dollars. Aren't you jealous that you don't live here (excluding those of you in Chapel Hill or Texas)?

Also, came across an old link, if you have a weak stomach or you're a girl, don't click. If you're a guy or you have a sense of humor about how the world turns... http://www.glumbert.com/media/lovestory.html

If you throw a cat out the window while driving down the highway... is that kitty litter?

"The need of the other is the presence of God in your life"
Carson, our Hebrew guide, teacher, rabi, and friend is the only reason any of us will make it through this intensive 7 week course. He's also one of the most insightful men i have ever known. Had i been keeping up this blog all summer, each entry would have started with one of his quotes. But i won't recap all of his ideas. You'll just have to hear them in my sermons ;-)
Fun trip to Wal-mart and the animal shelter today to help Loren pick out a kitty cat. We're gonna go pick up the lil tyke on tuesday. He was the most admirably persistant one who wanted to be taken home, all tiny and tan and white and stripey. Tonight, we have another cookout, so like a fat kid in dodge ball... i'm out!

Summer Richmond Recap

Well, several of you have asked me how the summer is going, how Richmond is, and what life at Seminary is like. i'll try to answer as much of that as i can to summarize the last 6 weeks, going on 7.

LIFE IN RICHMOND: Let me start by describing my new life here outside of class, as that is more interesting to most of you. i am living in a 3 story dormitory. The first floor is offices and a sort of "Student Union" lounge area with a big screen and pool table and ping pong and food tables and the mailboxes for all of campus. Yes, i know, i couldn't get away from the Student Union at UNC, and now i live in one. While the outer doors to this building are locked (fortunate, as we are located between the 2 worst neighborhoods in Richmond), no one shuts or locks their mailboxes, and few people here shut or lock their doors unless they go away for the weekend. Those of you who were kind enough to come in, turn off my TV, my light, and shut my door for years in college, know that this suits my open door lifestyle nicely. i sometimes close it when i go to class, but it surprises anyone when they find it closed.

The dorm has room for about 25 or so, mostly set up in two-room suite style. i have my own sink, but share a shower and john with my suitemate Tom. Tom (aka: Hazakane- the old man) is a second-career student in his late 30's from Conn. He's a great musician and great guy to pal around with. He's also the most hard working anal-retentive student in the class, along with Noell (aka: Nono), my other best friend and self-dubbed big sis. They're both a good influence... in the classroom.

Noell, 26, is from East Texas, and therefore automatically a kindred spirit and besides being a coffee junky, Starbucks employee and caffeine pusher, is a conversation junkie who eats up all of my late hours :-D

Also in our study/get into trouble group is Charles (aka [in descending order of use]: Eesh Gadol- Big Man, Chuck, Chuckie), the 6'4" is also mid 20's, from Ohio, and most recently was teaching special Ed in New Mexico. He's one of the nicest, most easy going folks i've ever met, and totally reminds me in looks and personality of Jeff Goldbloom.

Jessi (she hates nicknames and terms of endearment, forget Cool Kid, Saint, or anything else, even though she is) is mid 20's and from SC, where she went to PC. She's here for ministry and Social Work. She's just a big kid with a heart of gold and borrows my movies more than anyone for background study noise.
Alex (Animal- think muppets) and Pete (Tiny- think ironic) also live on the hall in a suite where Berry French currently lives, but is prolly leaving. Alex is a kiddy shrink of sorts in his late 20's and a little too into Star Wars, but this we can't really fault him for. Pete played baseball for Montreat College with Aaron, my shift leader at the YMCA this summer (small world).

We have a great kitchen (smile x 10000) on our hall with several fridges, stoves, etc, where we all spend time cooking and studying for hours upon hours each day after class each morning. We prolly study off and on (more on than off) from after lunch/nap time until at least 1am most nights. We party a little and crash weekends. Every Friday night is a cookout. (Also ironic is the fact that i don't drink, but my mini-fridge is generally stocked with all the beer from my hallmates and occasionally, my OJ)

WEEKENDS:
Mostly we rest, watch tons of movies, and study some more.
We managed a weekend down to Raleigh at one point very very briefly to see Tom's folks and ride around in his father's restored antique Model-T and 1915 Buick. WOW
We (Me, Noell, Jessi, Tom) also drove up on our long weekend to Conn to help Tom with yardwork to sell his fabulous house and to drive back his other car to sell. We took in a Broadway Show (Sweeney Todd) and saw my cousin Katrina in NYC. On the way back, we scouted out Princeton some and saw Jessica Anderson (Patchett).

The Class:
i have now taken classes in Latin, German, French, and Spanish, a little of Italian, and picked up enough Thai to get by, count, etc. Hebrew... is... HARD!!! imagine yourself on a journey beyond sight and sound... you have now entered... the Hebrew zone... duh duh duh (cue creepy bongo drums and the guy in black and white).

Recipe for Baby Hebrew:
Take a 2 semester course of BIBLICAL Hebrew that might be taught in college/gradschool (entirely new eastern alphabet and grammar system)
Read right to left
Intensify by stressing cultural and historical significance
Stir in theology
Bring to a boil with a test every day
Season with a professor who has taught it for 16 years and lived in the land of milk and honey
Squeeze entire contents of these 2 semesters into a pan roughly 7 weeks long and too wide to cross
Let cool for about 2 weeks so that one may forget it all, and then add Old Testament class

Yum.

Ok, so now you're caught up. If you read this far, you must really have a boring job, or you're procrastinating, or you love me. We could do a pie chart of those possibilities, but i think it would be humble pie and very depressing. God Bless you all. More to come...

To masticate or procrastinate...

So in an attempt to procrastinate before stuffing more Hebrew into my head today, i Googled my own name. i learned a few fascinating things...

1) There are 3 Brian Daoust's in the world: 1 is me; 1 is some dude in Canada, of no importance except the surviving relative of a recently deceased Daoust up there (i'm sure he has a cat or a dog or hamster or wife who love him dearly); 1 is the guy i knew about, a few years older, Amherst Alum with all sorts of good records in Baseball/Basketball or something (makes up 99% of the internet entries on my name)

2) i was quoted in the Salisbury paper 6 years ago when i spoke at Josh Day's memorial service

3) Hayley White wrote a blog entry about me that i never read or knew about, months ago when i "rearranged her Pokie and Gumby figurines" and "ruined her childhood." Oh well, after reading her blog from then to now and realizing how much i miss Hayley and all the gang from UNC, not so much CO or those "filler states" ;-) i made a blog...

First Entry: Stardate (blah blah blah)

Yeah, so i dunno if i will keep this updated much, but i feel like since i don't talk to many of you not here in Richmond, then i should give you the option of knowing how things are going. Those of you, however, with Facebook would prolly be more amused by the constantly updated photo version, especially those of you who went to State (it's like the dick and jane picture book version). Just kidding, i love all you State folk too. There's even some State fans here at Union, although, not any students... hmmm. i thought i'd start with a stardate, as i was the amazingly cool kid who kept his first journal in stardates, yup.