Wowza!!!

Well the top floor is so close to being done I can taste it. It has been awesome having matt here to help out. Speaking of matt, and brielle, it is a joy to have them back here. Matt is a really great guy. The bathroom is painted and just moulding, a bit of electrical trim out, and the plumbing fixtures is left. The plaster is completely done and all the walls have been primed. So in the landing upstairs there is painting, trim, and some bookshelves to be done. In one bedroom there is a door needed to be hung and in both rooms closets we have to hang the clothing rods. Sounds like alot but it is just a few minor things. Next we have to jump downstairs to do a bunch of work to get ready for an inspector.

Christmas was pretty nice but not quite what I wanted it to be. I can always remember in years past hanging out around the tree sleeping and talking with friends and family enjoying the gifts that we have given each other. This year we decided that we would not buy any gifts for each other, and that we would only give gifts that were hand-made, gifts to charity, or something to that effect. Of course my parents couldn't resist so we got a few things. My brother got me a onion slicer from Saint vinnie's. It makes those bloomin onion things like they have at outback.

School is looming on the horizon, and I'm getting a little nervous. I'm sure once I get into the swing of things everything will be fine. I'm taking first aid, spanish 101, writing 123, and some wierd human relations thing. Clyde Parker gave me an old ford escort. It's probobly kinda crappy but hey free is free. That remids me that I need to add Clyde in my prayers as one of the good blessings in my life. He is really a great christian, and a great guy.

Been feeling a bit depressed lately but I think I'm coming out of it. I think alot of it is coming from both of my siblings getting married. I kinda feel like I was skipping down the road arm in arm with my family, and then all of a sudden everyone was like peace B i'm out. Anyway more to come as I am caught up in the work and festivities of the season.

Wha?..... Huh?.....

Well it seems that the federal government has forgoten to pay me some of my veterans benifits from last time I went to School. So I have a bunch of cold hard cash coming my way. Anyway everything for school is set up although I should probobly find out the first day of class.

Tonight I had the chance to minister to a young woman who is a self proclaimed lesbian. We had a long talk about many things including Christ, and His love. I gave her my copy of "blue like jazz" becuase I thought it might be able to say some things to her that I couldn t.


I also finally quit at stop-n-rob. I was getting so sick of that place. I just hope that meeting the above mentioned girl there, is part of God's infinitly all powerful plan.

I am soo blessed It's almost crazy. Are you taking crazy pills? Maybe so.

Holy Re-model Batman!

Well we have been working hard on the house. Almost all things have taken a backseat to the work. We took a few days off and worked on my Dad's new laminate floors though. The basement is very near texturing and paint is right after that. Although we have turned our focus to the top floor in anticipation for the Deppes arrival, on the 20th?
I am trying to get everything set up for school winter term and it hard trying to look for another job, getting set up for school, working on two houses, looking into work visas and jobs in mexico, and staying ahead of my bills while trying to maintain some kind of social life.
I also started a new forum for political discussion and added it to my blog links section. I am the admin there so I can controll all of your thoughts. Oops did I just reveal my evil plan? MUhahahahahaha. Thought I'd throw an evil laugh in there for good measure. But really come check out my forums if you like discussing politics at a place that doesn't let people flame each other. Intelligent conversations only, Hopefully.

Slap me sideways and call me sally.

Well it seems that my computer is retarded and decided that it doesnt have the capabilities to tell me ow to convert the pictures I have into a format that blogger understands.

I am getting sick of this dang job at Stop N Rob. I asked my boss for tues and sundays off, and she decided to put me on tues and sundays for the next month. So next week I will be off to look for new jobs.

The house is coming along very quickly. We have so many projects at different stages it makes it hard to see where you acually are in the whole sense of the thing. But the Basement will be ready to paint soon. The waste line plumbing is 100% done, which is nice.

I'm still single and still looking. I think maybe at frst I was trying to hard. I just have to wait I guess for God to work in His own time to lead me to who he wants me to be with. I just find this frusterating though, although I should probobly take comfort in it, knowing I can't make a better choice than He could anyway.

I find myself sometimes slipping back into old habits. And I'm replacing some old bad habits with new bad habits.I need to work on that. Identifieing these bad habits are the first part of this.

Wait..... Who are you?

We had a raging costume party last night here at the house. Unfortunatly only about half of the people showed up in costume. Next year I think we will charge a cover for anyone not attending in costume. That gives me a good idea. I think we should have one party a years that has a cover charge of 10 dollars or something to fund the rest of the parties we host here all year round. I will add some pics as soon as I figure out why this dang blog won't take picture from the camera.

He was made a servant unto the Lord, and he was blessed greatly among all men.

I have always wanted to get my ears pierced ever since I saw my first pirate movie. With thier swaggering charm and manly scars. Ear rings were all part of the persona. I mean really in a time of sissy dressing men Pirate's were real men's men.
As I grew up my parents forbid us boys to get our ears pierced. Probobly a good idea since it wasn't very custom to our time. Now that I'm 25, free of my parents rule(technically)and free from the Marines I have gotten my ears pierced, and I am posting today to help those who wish to read this why.
For the vast majority of our civilized world Slaves and servants have existed(even to this day). One sign of slavery is the pierceing of the ears. As God called us to be servants and humble I have taken to fasting once a week to consider these things. I use fasting as a way to remind myself of my duty, not just my duty but my pleasure of serving Christ. I have taken to piercing my ears as an added reminder that I AM a servant of God, He has blessed me, I should rejoice in being able to serve him, not window shop over sinful acts.
Now don't get me wrong here but there is also a dual purpose in getting my ears pierced. I also wanted to be abl to wear all different kinds of ear rings becuase I think they are cool. Like I said though missunderstand my earlier statement as a cover up to my true intentions. My true intentions are that they will be a reminder to myself that I should humble myself before the work of the Lord.

All things in time will burn.

Well one guy left work and another got injured so there is only two guys working this week, me and the manager. Guess who gets the crap shift. Anyways I have been working at this store for around two months now. I have seen alot of the lower end of society.
i.e. One woman comes in with her two teenage kids (both of whom spend alot of money on candy and the like at other times) and hands me her Oregon Trail Card (Food Stamps and welfare money rolled into a debit like card). She spends around 30 dollars on junk food and soda, then she buys, with the welfare portion, around 50 dollars in scratch lottery tickets. When she told me that she wanted to put the lotto tickets on the welfare I almost blew my top. I can barely believe that this is legal. It sure as heck shouldn't be. Our stores biggest sellers are cigarettes, beer, and lottery in that order. It's acually kinda sad to see people wasting thier money, and our tax dollars away.

I also have been propositioned several times while working there which while flattering in one sense, in a more important measure is disgusting. I am remembering the sermon last sunday all week about how we shouldn't find sin tempting, but find it horrible. One great quote from the sermon was talking about how "dogs return to thier vomit" It is so true that we should find sin (vomit) disgusting yet we return to our sins anyway. I find myself thinking alot about that lately. So I have decided to try to fast and pray once a week to help me think about my relationship with God and my walk as a christian. I tried to today but it is so temping to do at work becuase i'm around candy and food all day. I have decided that a weekend day or non-workday is a better choice. I think being temped so much to eat can only lead to failure every time.

Work on the house is going well although this week I have not been able to do as much as I would have liked to.

Next weekend I'm hosting a costume party at my house which hopefully will prove to be a good time. I have invited quite a few people and I have a week to get the house ready. Ok tired must do work and sleep cya lata all.

I can't fly with broken wings.

Ok sorry for not posting in a while (Brielle).
I noticed last night how many dang commercials that we watch while viewing TV, and how many times the are shown over and over again. Most of them were based around general commercialism. To be expected. But around a 6th of them were either innapropriate or being sold by sex. The most commecials centered around advertisining for other tv shows or movies. The average commercials were about video games, medicine, food, and general items. Anyways I was kinda surprised I thought I had seen more commercials before that I thought shouldn't be aloud on TV. Maybe they were taking a break last night.
I have been feeling depressed lately, but things are starting to look up. Even though I'm still single, lonley, and out of shape. I have resolved to fasting once a week. I will try to do this on Mondays, but this doesn't always work.
The house is coming along pretty well. Steve had the week off and we got quite a bit of work done. The biggest project we have is getting the HVAC system done, so say a little prayer for us and this project to run smoothly.
I will write more lata I'm tired, Peace.

Dinner

Well I just got back from wedding crashers, the movie. In some ways I found the movie to be increadable funny yet at the same time derogitory and shameless. Anyways If you liked Old School you will probobly enjoy it.
TO the Dinner! I made a dinner tonight for some friends of mine, Micheal (canadian dude), Sarah (RUF gal), and Slappy. I invited a few others but apearantlt people have busy lives. To the point now.
For an appitizer I made asperigus wrapped in procuittio, and Italian mushrooms stuffed with chopped onions and green olives. For the main course I served a light salad and lemon garlic tenderlion, which I baked slightly too long, with a cabernet sauvignon. Then we had some cherry chocolate ice cream for dessert. I guess the only part I wasn't very happy about was forgetting to buy napkins and not having a great place setting set.
Over all I thought everything tasted great but I'm hardly not bias. Tonight has only reinforced my desire to attend the culinary arts school.
Work is going well and I got offered another job working as a dishwasher at a really nice resturant/bar where with time, not alot hopefully, I will woprk up to prep cook. Either way I think it's a good idea to start to get into the resturant buisness if I'm looking at becoming a chef in the future.

The House

Well with the Deppe's coming in Dec to live with us work on the house in starting to kick into full gear. It's kinda exciting to think about how to start bring everything together and running. Work is going good right now and I'm pretty happy there. I enjoy a few of the customers alot. I talked to one (on my day off) for about an hour down at the store and we walked home together, as she lives up the street from me. Anyways talk to ya ll lata.

LOST

Well I speant last night (all the way to 7 am) and the last few nights watching the first season of lost the tv show. It is increadabely addicting. If you haven't been watching the show you probobly should this is a really great series. It always leaves off at horriblely suspenseful parts. Ok I have about 4 PBR's in me right now I'm going to go to bed.

Here is a little B belly with her first love Zach.
That's me when I was all cute and fuzzy. Here's my ugly mug now.

School

Well It turns out that due to LCC red tape I can't attend Lane untill winter term. Well thats good acually it wil let me get my finacial aid together. I added some more cool lonks hope you enjoy them. I'm going to Elias Veermans birthday party tonight. If I'm lucky he will play the organ for us. Anyways I'll write mas lata.

False Alarm

Well it turns out the dogs have some kind of rash, not fleas. I must have just been itchy that night. That's a relief plus I have clean sheets, not that clean sheets are rare. Whew I just smelled myself I gotta go take a shower.

Sleep Where Art Thou? FLEAS!!!!!!!!!

Well I spent about 2 hours trying to fall asleep last night. I went to bed at 2 am and didn't fall alseep till after 4. At least I don't have to be to work untill 3 pm. I was itching all over too, but not like a rash itch, like certain spots. I think becuase the dogs sleep on my bed, and I now suspect they have fleas, that I now have fleas. Gross! I'm going to go take a really long shower after this.

Music!!

I'm adding three new Gorillaz songs to check out.
Gorillaz- Dare
Gorillaz- Dirty Hairy
Gorillaz- All Alone

I will add mas here too. These songs may not be new but they are some of my new favorites.

Wham- Everything She wants
Jefferson Starship- Sarah
Thompson Twins- Hold Me Now
Crowded House- Hey now
Duran Duran- Come Undone
LLCoolJ- Back Seat
LLCoolJ- Hey Lover
Newsboys- Reality
REM- Shiney, Happy People
Romantics- Talkin in Your Sleep
Sugar Hill Gang- Rapper's Delight

Some good songs for those blue days.
Chris Issak- I Wonder
Chris Isaak- Forever Blue
Chris Isaak- Wicked Game
George Micheal- Kissing a Fool
Nina Simone- I got it bad and that ain't good

Well That's all for now, But I'm not done by far.

Taxes!!!

That's B Belly Lumpkins and her sidekick Santa's Little Helper


I really hate taxes! Ok get this. I owe 200 something dollars to the state for last years taxes but I have to pay those taxes first to get federal aid for college. Kinda funny It's almost a catch 22. Anyways I'm dealing with it but it's a royal pain in the butt.
So I have to sign up for classes next week. Wow pray for me to be able to get my life together in time please. I decided that I'm going to take up fasting and praying on Mondays so if anyone wants to join or has some prayer requests let me know. Nothin much has been happnin just a few days off from work and relaxing cleaning and getting things together.

My Links!!!!

I put up a bunch of new links but i couldnt see them when i signed on to my mother computer. So let me know when you guys can see them if you can, and make sure to check out the toast song!

Picture day!!!

Two years ago we made the Uber snow cave. Thats me in the brown jacket.
Here's Steve relaxing after many hours of digging.
This was the entrance.
The night we spent in there was a little cold but very cozy none the less.

This Is Me and my little puppy (not really a puppy) Napoleon.
Here is Steve (yea he's pretty cool huh) My older brother.


Well I thought I'd start getting a few pics up I'll write lata.

On and on and on and on and on...............

Wow I just spent the last few hours catching up on ashley's, brielle's, matt's, steve's, and holly's blogs. You guys are crazy as loons, but not as crazy as crazy loons. Huh what did I just say? Oh well I leave it for you to figure out. Not much else to tell tonight though I just went over to the crites with steve tonight. Oh and I watched The Life Aquatic today. Not a bad flick at all.

It's a tuesday!!!

School registration is coming up and I need to get on the ball and pay my taxes for last year. Acually I thinnk I need to still do my taxes from last year. Coming out of such an unorginized state is really difficult to deal with motivation and trying to fix all the stupid things I let pile up over the last three years.
On a totally different subject I noticed something the other day for the first time. I caught myself staring at a beautiful woman that had a child shopping in a store. But when I realized that I was staring I noticed I wasn't fantasizing about her but jealous of her. I was thinking about the joy of anothers love, and the blessing of children. Maybe I'm an idiot for wanting marriage, I don't know.
Ok next it's time for me to tell ya'll about some of my new favorite songs. And If when I say favorite songs you think of weezers new album then people in glass houses, sink ships.

I really liked this song becuase it really has no words other than a short simple messege and it has a catchy beat.
Thievery Corporation- Strange Effect

This is the first Thievery Corporation song I heard and I still love it to this day.
Thievery Corporation- Lebanese Blonde

My good friend Ashly showed me these songs they are outstandingly funny.
Flight of the Concords- Hiphopotamus meets the Rymenoceros
Flight of the Concords- Buisness time

I heard this song on the radio and went out a bought the album. It's not bad you should check out the whole album Demon Days
Gorillaz- Feel Good Inc.

I still like this song first time I heard it was on a mixer album from my little sissy (B. Belly Lumpkins).
The Killers- Andy Your a Star

An awesome classic to check out if you have never heard it or haven't in a long time listen to this one.
The Cure- Mint Car

Alrightly then I'll write you later I gotta visit the B room before I blow like a flock of sea gulls at a alka seltzer factory.

Damn Spammers

Today I got up late something like 9:30 only becuase I can. Went to check my blog to see if I got any comments yet, and to my suprise I got my first one. I got a split second rush down my spine and the anticipation could barley be contained as I shook like a hypothermic school boy waiting to see my comment. Low and behold It's a friggen advertisment. I want to strangle the guy who spams my blog and pee in his wheeties. It really amazes me how damn rude people are today. The annonymity (<---spelling?) of the internet makes people think they can do whatever they want. If someone came to my door this morning at 6:00 am and told me about thier cash advance store I would beat them with the nearest blunt object and have my dogs pee on them.

Anyways today is my first day at stop n shop by myself so wish me luck to not make anyone too pissed off as they wait in line. Oh yea two wierd things happened at stop n shop. Two days ago some old dude was cursing at me under his breath and when I said excuse me he said really loud "put it (wine bottle) in the F'in bag". My first reaction was shock my second was that the hospital better get a geriatrics room ready becuase I'm sending them some beat down old dude. But like Ben Folds says "I'm too polite". Anyways next time I'm taking the merchandise away from them and sending them out the door. The other wierd thing is some girl on the afternoon of sept. 11 was almost jumping my bones over the counter just to get a smell of my deodorant. No seriously I was like dang I knew I smelled good but at least ask for my number. Anyways I would have thought she was on drugs (we get alot of druggies) except she seemed normal besides the practically jumping over the counter. Chris also told me that she is not the druggie type just single and looking apearantly. Ok anyways I'll write more lata If Anything wort talking about happens.
(note to self: post pictures)

A day to remember

Well Sept. 11 has come again, and I wonder a few things. I watched a special on TV on flight 93 (the one that went down in the field). It is a story that if true (about thier heroism) is a heart wrenching one. For some reason it makes me feel guilty again about leaving the Marines knowing we were going to war. I am almost near tears when I hear about Marines especially dieing in Iraq. I wonder was I wrong for leaving the Marines for so petty a reason as I didn't like being treated like a kid by superiorers. I feel the guilt every time I think about it. I sometimes wish that on those lists of the dead I should be there up there. Is this some morbid desire to be immortalized or do I really wish to gove my life for our way of life. I don't really know. All I do know is that I have a deep respect for anyone soldier or civilian who gives thier life for our great country.
I also have a newfound dis-trust of Arabs in general. With the way the terrorists so easily (becuases they had no bad history of anything terrorist related or not) came here and lived among us it leaves me no choice but to be dis-trustful of these possible sleeper cells. Another group I have come to greatly dislike from this event is the leftist radicals that call Iraq an oil war, etc....
Anyways on a lighter note I worked at stop and shop today, and Chris (the guy training me for closing shift) was not as annoying as usual. If you have ever met a dungeons and dragon fanatic then you would know the type. I also went to Dan and Sarah Johnson's wedding reception today. They make a nice couple. It makes me jealous though to see all my friends and family getting married around me while I still yet to even get a girlfriend. I must be trying to hard or something because I feel like a crack monkey right now chomping at the bit to get married. I guess not so much becuase everyone else is , but becuase the one thing I feel is missing is companionship. I know some of that s filled by God but there is a physical companionship that can only be filled by a lover and a friend. In short being single sucks big time. Well I can't talk your ears off all at once besides you probly need your ears. Talk to ya later.

Muhahahaha

The notoriously bad spelling riegn of the Angry Scotsman begins.
(note to self: post in blog every day.)
Ok really short back round.
Ian Houston is my name (<------That's me) I was born in Madesto,CA and my family moved to Eugene, OR when I was three. I grew up here in Oregon untill I was 17 when I joined the Marine Corps. While in the Marines I lived in Okinawa, Japan for a year, as well as being deployed overseas on a ship. While on the ship I visited Hawaii, East Timor, Singapore, Thailand, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emerites, Suadi Arabi, Jordan, Guam, and I'm pretty sure our LT. got us lost while in Kuwait and we accidently drove into Iraq. Anyways after the Marines I came back to Oregon and have been working odd jobs. I now am going to attend school, and I work at a convience store.
Ok for todays post I'm letting everyone know I'm sick and not postiong much. My brother (Steve) and I are working on filling in the back yard with dirt. We are doing a mojor remodel on his house, and working on the back yard right now. Yesterday I brewed 12 gallo0ns of honey mead for my sister's (Brielle) wedding in January. Hopefully it will be ready ion time for the wedding. I have to work on the labels for the bottle's now so I will write mas later.
(note to readers: sometimes i use spanish words, don't ask me why)