half a world away
Just got back from the Y. Huge facility–the biggest I’ve seen–with three stories and provision for just about any type of athletic activity one could wish to participate in. Very friendly people. They gave me three free passes until I get my “financial assistance” form filled out and turned in to see if I qualify for a discount as a student.
I got in a workout. It was the first time I had visited the weight room since, oh, fall ’03, and it felt like it. I did a good circuit of just about everything, wobbly arms and all. The activity on which my drop-off was most pronounced were dips… I used to be able to strap a 45-pound weight to a belt on my waist and clock off 12, 15 without thinking about it. But today I struggled to do 8, with no extra weight involved. Oh well. All in good time.
While rotating my car’s tires yesterday morning, I discovered that the front right outer CV joint split and flung its grease all over the inside of the wheel well. Joy. Guess I’ll be ordering a new boot repair kit soon… I hope I don’t have to disassemble the joint itself to remove the boot. Wishing for a bench vise and a brass hammer and drift set…
Drove back to Chapel Hill for the first time in three weeks to attend a wedding. It was great to see the family. Paul and I had lunch at Carrburritos and David and Rachel were there too, on the verge of heading to Top of the Hill to celebrate their 6 months of dating (do you call that an anniversary?). At the wedding, the bride’s family are long-time friends of ours, and we have many mutual acquaintances that go back very far, so we saw folks we hadn’t seen in many, many years. They put us together at the same table at the reception, so we all had a chance to catch up with one another. It made the whole group activity more bearable, but nevertheless, I was still conversationally drained after an hour or two. They say the difference between an introvert and an extrovert is the effect group situations have on your social energy–whether they drain you or energize you–and by any measure I am an introvert. Between the wedding reception, social activity before a big class last Friday during which I felt like I was suffocating and countless other conversations with classmates over the past few weeks, I’ve firmly decided that I like people. I even like talking to people–have a conversation with me and I will genuinely care about what you’re talking about and be interested (not just seem so)–but there are maybe only 6-7 people with whom I can sustain a conversation and not feel like my social energy level is dipping lower, and lower, and lower… until it hits “E” and I need to be alone for a while. I’ll never understand how some people can walk into a room of strangers and feel excited, alive and alert by the situation. It’s a mindset I greatly admire but don’t think I’ll ever feel, no matter the amount of practice I get.
Well…I’m off to Barnes & Noble to study for a bit and to find and strike up a conversation with that dazzling but attainable beauty reading Descartes or Locke or Schaeffer across the coffee bar. Cheers!
I prefer monthiversary :-)
hahaha
Monthiversary it is then :)
1) I hate dips. Even when in shape they’re torture.
2) Why do people insist on having 2-25 anniversaries per year? Doesn’t annual mean once per year? Are people not creative enough to find a more appropriate name for it or excuse to treat themselves? 1 month, 3 month, 6 months…all anniversaries. Or are we as a society and culture so commitally adverse that any real relationship that lasts more than 1, 2, or 3 months is worth celebrating as if we had really accomplished something by ‘hanging in there’ so long. Geeze. Celebration of mediocrity. Dont get me wrong, i’m not bashing anyone in particular (nothing personal David, but Matt just happened to bring it up…celebrate away), but this is one of my pet peeve subjects. There’s nothing wrong whatsoever with going out to celebrate, but let’s just call it what it is instead of pretending it’s something more. (And yes, i know it’s just a commonly used phrase…a social norm that we’ve all fallen into…just another one of those misnomers, i guess. Still pisses me off, tho. :)
3) Had our first youth group this Sunday. Went quite well, but after this weekend i was absolutely wiped out. I realized on Monday night that i hadn’t had any ‘alone time’ since Thursday…the weekend was like one big party. Lots of fun, to be sure, but i was so wiped, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I definately get drained no matter who i’m around (except for a select few). Group dynamics just do something to me.
4) If i saw a girl voluntarily reading Locke i would unhesitatingly run screaming the other way. (Sorry…just got out of philosophy class not 20 minutes ago. I need time to recover.) James Herriot is much more my speed. ;-P
Glad you had a good weekend. As of next monday the FD will be at P1 Auto in Charlotte for injector cleaning/blueprinting and ignition coil replacement. Should take about a week. Kristi will be in PA for the week and i’ll be driving her car around, so that works out well. Trying to get everything ready for Deals Gap in October. Can’t wait. Lemme know next time you’re in the area. I’ll try to see if we can swing by there either on the way up or the way back…perhaps that Saturday night?
(I mean, who is man to think that he can find the truth about something just by rationalizing it in his mind? The whole premise of philosophy, to me, seems absurd. But then again, i dont see man as the end-all, be-all of the world around us. The most remarkable thing about philosophy is the absence of any kind of absolute. You can rationalize for or against anything you want to. Or like my teacher says, “An arguement doesn’t have to be true to be valid.” Drives me nuts. Ok…I’m done now. :)
I think people like anniversaries because, as you say, they like celebrating. But most peoples’ attitude toward the event is analogous to most guys’ attitude towards getting together with other guys–we need an excuse. Can’t just get together and drink tea and “visit,” we have to at least be drinking beer and watching television, participating in some mutual activity. Same thing with most folks and celebrating–they can’t just randomly celebrate; they need an excuse, a reason.
I’m glad youth group went well. Didn’t know you were a youth leader this year. That’s awesome :)
You’re taking philosophy at Carolina? Oh man… I wish I were in that class. Metaphysics at a liberal arts university: the lion’s den. Sounds like fun. And agreed about the contradiction of absolutes. In modern philosophy the only absolute is that there are none. You should read Francis Schaeffer if you have the time and inclination–he’s one of the best Christian philosophers of our time and almost everything he says touches on philosophical history in some way. He’s said quite a bit about Locke.
According to Mike Luddy you were the big winner at the dyno day last Friday :) How much did you put down?
introvert/extrovert
Hi Matt, Joel (formerly of Homefries). I hope you don’t mind my taking the liberty of reading this occasionally. Just wanted to let you know the introvert/extrovert comments are dead on…and there are others in your boat. I rest easy knowing every now and then those people who energize rather than drain will meander into life. Glad the school is going well.
I know, i know. But what’s wrong with saying, “hey babe, i like you…let’s go party”? Why make up an excuse? I think that’s more real and flattering. I dunno. Mebbe it’s more of a girl thing. Like if they feel that they’re celebrating relationship and committment it’s more intimate/important than just being around each other because of who you are. I just think it degrades the whole concept of a special, once a year celebration of live together. That make any sense at all???
Ah yes. Youth group leader John…that’s me. I know…i wouldn’t a thunk it either. ;)
Perhaps philosophy that stems from a Christian background and basic understanding of God would be more interesting to me. I just can’t stand the arrogance of man that drives the whole thing in the first place. We are so wise in our own eyes…make me sick, disinterested and annoyed. Can you see why i have to recover every day after taking that class??? :)
Yes, i was, i guess. But then again there were no other FDs out there. Ashraf just got the dyno files up on the forum. Just visit http://www.msccnc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=305&start=75 – I’m sure the guys would like to hear from you as well. You’re in Ashraf’s old stomping grounds, remember? I’m just kind of jaded when it comes to anything less than 300hp or so…
Have a great day!
Hey Joel :) Great to hear from you! I talked with Aaron yesterday and he said you guys went for a good run. Wish I could’ve been there–it sounded like fun.
I don’t mind at all. Keeping up with friends is a big reason I write in here, and I gave you the URL, so read away. Have a great Thursday!