Joyful all ye nations rise!

Aaaaaaaaaahhh, Christmas.... Right now I'm listening to 'Emanuel', and fondly remembering how I made Corey convulse with laughter so that he almost drove off Pleasents Valley Road when I told him I always picture Jaimey dancing to it.

But enough about Christmas, I promised Lizzy a detailed report on Thanksgiving. I was mostly dreading, but perversely hoping that Grandpa would get on a preterism/Moslim rant, but no such luck. It was pretty boring, but not in the 'you won't BELIEVE how boring it was, let me tell you!' kind of way. Nothing to report at all.

We got the greatest Christmas tree in the history of humanity this year. I'm not even kidding. 10 full feet of noble fir glory. I'm pretty sure that it is the Messiah of the Christmas trees, and it is dwelling in our humble home now, but will establish its Christmas tree kingdom on earth soon.

Anyways, this T-Day break was out of this world awesome for many reasons.
A. I got to wear my big fuzzy vest and ugg boots every day, and STILL froze.

B. I got to hang out with Corey and Travis a ton! We watched Elf on Friday, and I thought Travis was going into cardiac arrest from laughing at one point. Then on Saturday he taught me how to make apple chips in the oven!

C. I GOT TO PLAY MAJORAS MASK AGAIN!

D. I shunned homework and didn't even think about it!

E. But most of all, I read 4 Tony Hillerman books. I really cannot figure out what it is about those books, no matter how much I read them I don't understand why they intoxicate me the way they do. Why Hillerman's descriptions of Jim Chee making coffee in his trailer parked under the cottonwood tree, contemplating Navajo culture cause my heart to physically ache with love is beyond me. It was pretty big though, because I have been putting off reading the newer books the last few years, because I knew that Chee broke up with Janet Pete and had a new love interest who was a fellow cop named Bernie. That sounded too awful for words for me, so I just stuck to the older books. This weekend I read "Hunting Badger", and I actually liked her! I was picturing her being this disgusting manly cop lady, but shes not. And I actually think his books get better as he gets older, so I'm really happy.

I so did not want to go back to Biola, but when Lauren and Greg picked me up inside the airport like they were my parents and that made everything OK. We picked up Andrew and went to In-N-Out, and I felt like I hadn't seen them in years, which is probably more true because I had done nothing but my Torrey paper for who knows how long before Thanksgiving. I told them about my terrorless night terror, and decided that it is most likely the ghost of someone who died in the mass suicide. I think the ghost likes me though, so its OK.

I reeeeeeeeeeally, reeeeeeeeeeally, do not want to resume school tomorrow. I haven't done a single pull question since midrags, so I'm pretty much completely screwed. Oh well. All will be well, because the Ignatius boys will be performing "[Tender] Tennessee Christmas" in a couple of weeks.

There's a piece of Mark in every song that I sing

So I've never been more mad at the internet than when blogger wouldn't work yesterday. While I know today isn't Mark's birthday, I did write this on his birthday.

So in case everyone didn't know, today is the 54th birthday of the remarkable Mark Petersen. Today I called home, 'Hi mom! Can I talk to, uh, Dad?' and got to have a good conversation with the man, but it definitely wasn't enough. I started thinking about Mark, and who Mark is . I would love to be able to put him into words, so he can be immortalized someday in poetry, prose, or the like.

What is this....this essence, Mark? Obviously he needs no other adjective than the word 'Mark' to describe him. The word 'Mark', so utterly simple, is Mark. There's no other way to put it. I'll bet that a great majority of my readership doesn't know that Mark's middle name is Leon. Yes grandmom is a genius namer.

When most people meet Mark, they either think 'souless man of evil' (if they are unfortunate to be serving Mark at a restaurant, gas station, etc...) or 'cuddly tedybear'. But when one gets to know Mark better, Mark becomes 'a cuddly teddy bear that likes to be as annoying as possible to everyone he loves'. Now THAT is a father.

At this point you may be wondering why I use no 3rd person pronouns, but insist on saying 'Mark' over and over again. The reason is the same as why I started calling my father by his Christian name when I was 16: because Mark is the best word/name in any language, and should be said as often as possible. Why this is is a mystery, but it is still a fact. Some philosophers have hypothesized that 'Mark' is the Form of 'human names'. It would be good to take a look at this name to find out more how to describe Mark:

Now for the entomology of the name 'Mark Leon Petersen':
Mark= warlike
Leon=lion
petersen=son of 'rock'

Mark is warrior lion, crushing his enemies like rocks crush glass under his feet. Peace does not know Mark, and Mark does not know peace. Except, of course, when mark lays down to devour his wild prey, or when he sits on the cliffside, waiting to be pushed over to crush anyone unfortunate enough to be standing below. But that is not peace, Mark merely waits for war.
But thats only when I make a mess in the kitchen.

What about Mark during those brief times of peace?

Obviously, we should look past name meanings, and look at the common everyday use of the word 'mark'. 2 very great definitions stood out amongst the suitors at Dictionary.com:

"distinction or importance; repute; note: a man of mark."
'A man of Mark'. To be called such a thing! Anyways...

"Archaic or History/Historical. a boundary; frontier."
Mark is a frontierland, pretty sweet. Who wouldn't want to live in the land of Mark?

"an object or end desired or striven for; goal."
Yes, yes, everybody should definitely strive to be like Mark.

"a tract of land that may have been held in common by a primitive or early medieval community of peasants in Germany."
Those blessed German peasants!

Then, I found some other definitions that made me angry and defensive...

"an object of derision, scorn, manipulation, or the like"
WHAT?! NO!!!

"the intended victim of a swindler, hustler, or the like: The cardsharps picked their marks from among the tourists on the cruise ship."
THE MERE THOUGHT IS HORRIFYING! Robbing Mark on a cuise ship??? Just because he likes to watch and make fun of other people on board?!!!!

Well, its clear that Mark is an essence impossible to describe in words. I just hope that he has had a very happy birthday, and that the next 54 will be even better.

For his birthday, I wanted to make a list of my 'top 54 Mark moments'. But Mark is a simple guy, so I'm going to make a simple list.
Warning: Only daughters of Mark will remotely understand this list.

5.) Every single time he has reached into a bag of wheat thins and shoved an inhuman amount into his mouth.

4.) 'GOODNIGHT!'

3.) 'TOOTHBRUSHES DON'T GROW ON MONEY!'

2.) The time mom put Mark on a diet and I opened the bag of animal cookies in our pantry, and yelled 'Why are there only white ones in this bag???' Being to stupid to realize that Mark had been sneaking them secretly in the middle of the night. I quickly new when he penned me against the wall and started whispering death threats, but it was too late.

1.) 'ITS THE WORST THING IVE EVER SEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'


HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK! AND GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fairfield, I love thee

Here I am at Panera, and I've spent about half of my time here working on my paper, and the other half looking up the history of Solano County. Because, you know, thats really important right now. Even though I really have no right to know this-- did you know that basically the whole Suisun tribe committed MASS SUICIDE like 5 seconds away from my house by burning themselves alive in their huts? Yeah, craziness. Its like living on Masada or something. Not only that, but father Francisco Solano, as in SOLANO COUNTY, was one of the survivors, meaning that he was from Suisun Valley!!!!!! He was described as 6'7, handsome, and was a Christian so I'm really proud to be a resident of his county.

There is this super cute baby in a high chair next to me that looks just like Mark. I think I'll steal him. Speaking of super cute, allow me to delight your eyes:







Yes, you are allowed to use one or all of these pictures for a slideshow, screensaver, or wallpaper. Oh! Gotta leave for Punk n' Pie!

Shades of Nick

Uh, I can't say anything better than:

"Watch my life pass me by in the rearview mirror...."

Nick Lachey. Lord have mercy on us all. Actually, Lord have mercy on Jessica Simpson, because she must be completely insane. I'm pretty sure I reached that 7th level of contemplation that Bonaventure talked about the second he started singing 'Resolution'. Lizzy, I can't help but feel sorry for you. I'm really glad you got to see the man himself at the airport, or else life would be totally unfair.

BUT IF THE WORLD SHOULD EVER FALL APART AROUND YOU, AND IF YOU'RE LOST AND BARELY BREATHING I WILL FIND YOU-- AND CARRY YOU BACK HOME, I WONT FORSAKE THE ONLY LOVE I'VE EVER KNOWN!!!

fast cars, freedom and mafia!

I am trying to get the first draft of my torrey paper done, as well as my next area summary for archaeology, as well as my Galatians notes all done today so that I can do the various fun things I have planned this week. That means that I've been chilling on the bar in the Ohana corner lobby for about 13 bazillion hours oblivious to whatever has been going around me, stuffing my face with tortilla chips and fudge graham cookies. This girl just walked in and gawked and said "Please tell me you moved since when I saw you here at noon." I couldn't answer that question without (a) humiliating myself or (b) lying. I've been getting that alot lately, which reminded me of a song I wrote a little while ago for Lizzy. I'm no wierd Al, but here it goes:

Starin' at me,
putting on my makeup
wondering why I even put it on
I know I think I do, but no one's going to see it
Except when you come walking in close to dawn
You see a laptop chillin with a paper-backed Aquinas
Two bloodshot eyes, a huge weight on my shoulders--

You say "Tell me you moved, you're right here again"
Larry's produce shirt hanging with its ice cream stain-
That paper is big but I should give life a chance
Yeah, you say
"You look way past those days of fast cars and freedom
Or that going to bed for the first time feeling"

Yeah, smile and shake your head as if you don't believe me
I'll just stay right here and see you taken aback
This is hour ten- (Look at me!)
On my 12 inch lap-top
Sitting on the barstool looking just like Hell!


Actually, I did get to have fun last night. GYRAD was really tight, even though Karla and I were really underdressed for it. It was pretty much the most elaborately planned GYRAD I've ever been on, so it was really really fun. Sam was a fun date but Karla and her date had so many sparks flying that more than one person caught on fire. I'm really glad that she doesn't know about the existence of this blog or else she would shoot me for saying that. Anyways, it was a mafia themed scavenger-huntish thing where we went all over downtown Fullterton doing 'business transactions' and figuring out which of the 5 families killed our Don. I got to demonstrate my very extensive knowledge of how the whole system works, due entirely to my decades of watching General Hospital. I probably came off as a Godfather fan with my warnings of 'We must appease the 5 families' and my tips at how to appear respectful but strong to other familes. As Lizzy always says 'Everything I know, I know from TV.' Actually, I didn't learn my ABSURD Black Jack skills from TV, those just came through killer instinct. My date and I fully tripled our chips while playing for only 10 minutes, unfortunately there was no real money involved.

Well, I should get back to one or all of my papers. I can't wait to get these done! But I keep a smile on my face forTuesday harks the coming of....NICK LACHEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Genesis 24:2

So today I thought a great many of deep thoughts. Many important things happen to me, people I love, and the world around me. I had wonderful conversations with amazing people, and I discovered the answers to some major questions that have puzzled philosophers for centuries. I do this pretty much every day.

But you will never know these things from this blog, because when I write this blog I am usually sitting on my futon, wolfing down honey mustard&onion pretzels by the ton while watching TV. Naturally, the only thoughts that come to mind either come directly from the TV screen or from things that happened in self-defense class.

I'm watching Grey's Anatomy, and it seems that my dream that I was pregnant with twins with different due dates is, indeed, possible.

Albino 'Flo-Jo' Boy and I had to take turns molesting each other yesterday. It was the worst thing I've ever done. I would describe the new techniques we learned...but children could be reading this. Let's just say the words "You HAVE to straddle him, Petersen, it's the most important part!" were yelled by the instructer. As well as psychological scars, I think my arms are scarred by his super long nails.

It's the weekend! God is so good! I'll probably end up working on my paper the whole weekend, but its still OK.

I want to live in a well-lit house

That is still WAY better than 'I want to live in a wooden house", I don't care what Chris Martin says. Lighting is much more important than building materials.

So I show up to class yesterday, and Mrs. Langenwalter was there to tell us that Mr. Langenwalter got the flu today and couldn't come to class. ........................................................................ um, yeah. That's all I can say. We gave our presentations to each other, but still. 46,000 hours of work and he's NOT EVEN THERE!

Last night I dressed as iceman for Haloween, which was pretty much the most exciting thing I've ever done. I didn't have the unfinished axe shaft or longbow with me, but it was still pretty tight. We got to go to the Sywulkas, which is always fantastic.

Torrey is redoing their 'text&resources' part of the website, and asked for volunteers to cover each text. You are now looking at the official author of the TACITUS page! I'm not sure why it makes me so gleeful, but I hope I don't end up writing too much since it's supposed to be a 'short introduction' and I have alot I can say. I'm going to have to get some of Andrew's 'Oh Tacitus, You Jokester' quotes for the page.

I have to take this time to tell Lizzy that she missed one of the most moving scenes in General Hospital history. Jason set up a romantic dinner for Sam and told her that his life was empty until she came into his life. It's beautiful. Now Alexis is crying because Carly got to dress Molly and Kristina up for Haloween while she's in the hospital undergoing chemo. (Carly's dressed like a sexy witch for I swear the 8th year in a row, and Alexis is angry because Kristina is dressed as a cheerleader) Oh, and I think Emily and Nikolas are getting back together. Maxi is telling people she's pregnant with Lucky's kid, (she's obviously lying) and Georgie is trying to get her to stop drinking. It looks like sparks are flying between her and Diego, which I think is the best couple-to-get-them-away-from-everyone-else since Alexis and Ric got together. Who, by the way, are getting divorced. Lulu just punched some girl at a party. Oh, and Laura woke up! GASP! RIC JUST SET SAM UP TO BE ARRESTED RIGHT AT THE MOST ROMANTIC MOMENT EVER! A dynamic episode all around.

I must also tell Lizzy that she's never seen ANYTHING as horrific as the Boston Legal Haloween commercials. I can't adequately describe them.