...another blog post for my faithful readers....
I've been keeping busy with work, the newspaper route, the last weeks of school, church, etc.
Work is going well. I'm getting better and can handle almost every transaction without help (though there are some rarities). I can even do WIC (women, infants, children; food assistance on top of food stamps I guess), though I pretty much hate it. No idea how good or successful the program is but if it's not really a success, it was a democrat's idea, lol.
The newspaper route is ok. Got our first rain during the route this morning. Mostly light but there was some heavy rain.
School is coming to completion. Only two days left in History and English and three or four weeks in Pre-Calculus and Physics.
Church is going well. We are now members of FBC Benton, which is cool. Sean Michel, you may remember him as the Fidel Castro look-alike on American Idol, is in concert tonight in the Upper Room as a benefit for the Peru mission trip. I'm looking forward to that.
In sports, both of my hockey teams were eliminated in the first round again. Nashville lost in 5, Dallas lost tragically in game 7. And both of my basketball teams stumbled to the underdog in game 1 of their series. I hope San Antonio and Dallas can turn it around tonight. Go Mavs!
Heroes has returned from its five or six week break with a good episode. I definitely love Heroes...
...But it still doesn't grip me like LOST does. Only four episodes and the "cataclysmic" two-hour season finale remain in season three. Last week's was good, not great. I suppose that this week will be decent and will have a killer lead-in for next week and that the last four episodes will be outstanding pieces of art. My prediction at least. From what I've read about the episode next week, without giving away any spoilers, it will be amazing.
So that's what's going on in my life. I'm visiting the University of Oklahoma soon so that's exciting.
Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Comment below...
-Kevin C. Burns
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Busy days...
A lot's been happening and thus my blog has been neglected but I have some time now...
Life at Wal-Mart has begun. After four hours of orientation and about seven hours of computer training, I am training on the floor with the best cashiers. Friday night, my first night on the floor, went poorly. I was vastly unprepared and very nervous. Combined with my trainer being possibly the quickest checker I've ever seen (her IPH is over 900, that's one item scanned every 4 seconds; Wal-Mart wants one item per 10 seconds), I felt very pathetic. But things turned around today. I trained with some other cashiers and did a lot of checking and did well. Gained some confidence back. Now I need to remember some often used produce codes (4011 is bananas, lol). I work a few more shifts this week.
And I have a new job. I'm now a co-deliverer of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with my dad. He needed some help and it's going to pay for my insurance and phone and some bonus plans for my KRZR (Mobile Web and basic text messaging). Getting up at 2AM in the morning is not my cup o' tea but I suppose I'll get used to it. This morning was a crude awakening (lol @ the pun). Sunday papers require some assembly and some tough rolling into the bags (the papers barely fit in my hands and required some stretching of my thumb to hold). Plus there are more houses to deliver too. Plus the Democrat-Gazette requires the delivery to be to the front porch, within 18 inches of the front door preferably. Why? I don't know. The local paper delivers to the driveway. Driveway delivery would make the job a ton easier, wouldn't require getting out of the car, and would be more practical but whatever. Who can understand the media? In all the places we've lived we've never had front porch delivery. Anyways, after everything, we were done right after 5. I was awake from 2-5. I hope the weekdays don't take as long...I plan on sleeping to 10AM tomorrow since I don't have to work tomorrow afternoon and I don't have anything going on. Maybe even 10:30AM. It was almost like taking two naps last night. One for three hours and one for two hours. Not fun but life isn't fun. Stupid car insurance costs...
My eyes are already heavy. I won't get to watch the Dallas Stars hockey game tonight. Both of my teams in the playoffs, Dallas and Nashville, are tied at one game apiece with Vancouver and San Jose, respectively. The NHL was stupid to sign the deal with Versus. That means the only playoff hockey I see is the games on FSN Southwest (3 out of 7). When you're trying to win fans back, I'd suggest getting the product more out there even if it doesn't make as much money (I think that was the fall through of the ESPN deal but ESPN has more than double the potential audience of Versus (I think)). Anyways, I miss hockey.
Church was good today and tonight. This morning the Executive Director Emeritus of the Gideons International spoke about what the Gideons are doing and how it's going. Tonight Pastor Rick talked about love briefly (he was flying through the points, had a hard time keeping up). It was good.
Well I'm about ready to go to sleep before the game even begins. Why can't newspapers be delivered at like 11pm. Sure you'd miss most of the sports scores but you can get those online. OK, bad idea but I'm not real big on newspapers right now...
Good night!
Life at Wal-Mart has begun. After four hours of orientation and about seven hours of computer training, I am training on the floor with the best cashiers. Friday night, my first night on the floor, went poorly. I was vastly unprepared and very nervous. Combined with my trainer being possibly the quickest checker I've ever seen (her IPH is over 900, that's one item scanned every 4 seconds; Wal-Mart wants one item per 10 seconds), I felt very pathetic. But things turned around today. I trained with some other cashiers and did a lot of checking and did well. Gained some confidence back. Now I need to remember some often used produce codes (4011 is bananas, lol). I work a few more shifts this week.
And I have a new job. I'm now a co-deliverer of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with my dad. He needed some help and it's going to pay for my insurance and phone and some bonus plans for my KRZR (Mobile Web and basic text messaging). Getting up at 2AM in the morning is not my cup o' tea but I suppose I'll get used to it. This morning was a crude awakening (lol @ the pun). Sunday papers require some assembly and some tough rolling into the bags (the papers barely fit in my hands and required some stretching of my thumb to hold). Plus there are more houses to deliver too. Plus the Democrat-Gazette requires the delivery to be to the front porch, within 18 inches of the front door preferably. Why? I don't know. The local paper delivers to the driveway. Driveway delivery would make the job a ton easier, wouldn't require getting out of the car, and would be more practical but whatever. Who can understand the media? In all the places we've lived we've never had front porch delivery. Anyways, after everything, we were done right after 5. I was awake from 2-5. I hope the weekdays don't take as long...I plan on sleeping to 10AM tomorrow since I don't have to work tomorrow afternoon and I don't have anything going on. Maybe even 10:30AM. It was almost like taking two naps last night. One for three hours and one for two hours. Not fun but life isn't fun. Stupid car insurance costs...
My eyes are already heavy. I won't get to watch the Dallas Stars hockey game tonight. Both of my teams in the playoffs, Dallas and Nashville, are tied at one game apiece with Vancouver and San Jose, respectively. The NHL was stupid to sign the deal with Versus. That means the only playoff hockey I see is the games on FSN Southwest (3 out of 7). When you're trying to win fans back, I'd suggest getting the product more out there even if it doesn't make as much money (I think that was the fall through of the ESPN deal but ESPN has more than double the potential audience of Versus (I think)). Anyways, I miss hockey.
Church was good today and tonight. This morning the Executive Director Emeritus of the Gideons International spoke about what the Gideons are doing and how it's going. Tonight Pastor Rick talked about love briefly (he was flying through the points, had a hard time keeping up). It was good.
Well I'm about ready to go to sleep before the game even begins. Why can't newspapers be delivered at like 11pm. Sure you'd miss most of the sports scores but you can get those online. OK, bad idea but I'm not real big on newspapers right now...
Good night!
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Concert Review: Coming Up to Breathe Tour
April 4, 2007-Robinson Music Center, Little Rock, AR
MercyMe, Audio Adrenaline, and Aaron Shust
In a smaller venue (comparatively for MercyMe and Audio Adrenaline), MercyMe, Audio Adrenaline, and Aaron Shust put on a great show.
Aaron Shust kicked it off with some of his songs including a new one and radio hit "My Savior My God". Good set, good musician.
Audio Adrenaline, on their last tour, followed with a good set of favorites over the years. They entered following a recording featuring little snippets of 15-20 of their hit songs in chronological order with "Clap Your Hands", an energetic set opener. The music that followed was varied from a cover of "Free Ride" to "Hands and Feet" to "Big House" and several in between. A good collection of many of of my favorites over the years. To close the set, Audio Adrenaline said farewell with "Goodbye", a new song off of their greatest hits album titled Adios that released last summer. Though it isn't too difficult to see why Audio Adrenaline is retiring (lead singer Mark struggled through some parts with his vocal cords damaged), it is hard to see such a great band go.
After an intermission, MercyMe entered with a great technical set (lighting and video) and some great music. Starting with a basic stage, MercyMe opened with "No More No Less" and followed with some hits, including "Here With Me", "Spoken For", and "Bring the Rain", among others, a cover of Audio Adrenaline's "Tremble" and set changes including a video screen and some good lighting that is becoming the norm for good shows. After their biggest hit to date, "I Can Only Imagine", they exited the stage but would return for three more songs including "One Trick Pony", "3:42am", and the closer, "So Long Self" which featured the music video and ended with large amounts of confetti being rocketed into the seating area.
A great "opening act", a farewell, great music, and great production made for a great concert. The show featured something for everybody from rock to worship to softer music and all around. Another great tour from MercyMe and a great farewell from Audio Adrenaline.
MercyMe, Audio Adrenaline, and Aaron Shust
In a smaller venue (comparatively for MercyMe and Audio Adrenaline), MercyMe, Audio Adrenaline, and Aaron Shust put on a great show.
Aaron Shust kicked it off with some of his songs including a new one and radio hit "My Savior My God". Good set, good musician.
Audio Adrenaline, on their last tour, followed with a good set of favorites over the years. They entered following a recording featuring little snippets of 15-20 of their hit songs in chronological order with "Clap Your Hands", an energetic set opener. The music that followed was varied from a cover of "Free Ride" to "Hands and Feet" to "Big House" and several in between. A good collection of many of of my favorites over the years. To close the set, Audio Adrenaline said farewell with "Goodbye", a new song off of their greatest hits album titled Adios that released last summer. Though it isn't too difficult to see why Audio Adrenaline is retiring (lead singer Mark struggled through some parts with his vocal cords damaged), it is hard to see such a great band go.
After an intermission, MercyMe entered with a great technical set (lighting and video) and some great music. Starting with a basic stage, MercyMe opened with "No More No Less" and followed with some hits, including "Here With Me", "Spoken For", and "Bring the Rain", among others, a cover of Audio Adrenaline's "Tremble" and set changes including a video screen and some good lighting that is becoming the norm for good shows. After their biggest hit to date, "I Can Only Imagine", they exited the stage but would return for three more songs including "One Trick Pony", "3:42am", and the closer, "So Long Self" which featured the music video and ended with large amounts of confetti being rocketed into the seating area.
A great "opening act", a farewell, great music, and great production made for a great concert. The show featured something for everybody from rock to worship to softer music and all around. Another great tour from MercyMe and a great farewell from Audio Adrenaline.
40 pictures from the tour:
 |
| Coming Up to Breathe Tour 2007 |
Concert Review: How Great Is Our God Tour
March 22, 2007-Church at Rock Creek, Little Rock, AR
Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Louie Giglio (speaker)
On a nice Thursday night in Central Arkansas, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman led the group of 2,000+ people in a night of worship while Louie Giglio spoke about the greatness of God.
Starting off, Chris Tomlin led with some upbeat music and included Matt Redman in some of the later songs, then they switched and Matt Redman led for awhile. Some of the radio favorites mixed in with some songs I had not heard. From "Made to Worship" to "Forever" to "Glorious", it didn't matter if you knew the songs or not, it was great concert. After some music, Louie Giglio took the stage and spoke about God's greatness using the vast universe as an example. Amazing enough for me to warrant another viewing when the DVD becomes available (at 268generation.com). After the message and an intermission, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman brought some edgier worship music much to my delight. Chris Tomlin slowed it down one more time to conclude the evening with one of my all-time favorite songs and the namesake of the tour, "How Great Is Our God".
All in all, it was great time to take a step back and see the greatness of God through the message and praise Him for it.
Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Louie Giglio (speaker)
On a nice Thursday night in Central Arkansas, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman led the group of 2,000+ people in a night of worship while Louie Giglio spoke about the greatness of God.
Starting off, Chris Tomlin led with some upbeat music and included Matt Redman in some of the later songs, then they switched and Matt Redman led for awhile. Some of the radio favorites mixed in with some songs I had not heard. From "Made to Worship" to "Forever" to "Glorious", it didn't matter if you knew the songs or not, it was great concert. After some music, Louie Giglio took the stage and spoke about God's greatness using the vast universe as an example. Amazing enough for me to warrant another viewing when the DVD becomes available (at 268generation.com). After the message and an intermission, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman brought some edgier worship music much to my delight. Chris Tomlin slowed it down one more time to conclude the evening with one of my all-time favorite songs and the namesake of the tour, "How Great Is Our God".
All in all, it was great time to take a step back and see the greatness of God through the message and praise Him for it.
Friday, April 6, 2007
A Winning Idea, Cardinals Get Their First Win, Drug Screen Results...
A while back (September or October), while I was reading about Lifeway's theme for Vacation Bible School this year, I submitted an idea for a craft since they were asking for some. Totally forgot about it until yesterday. A package from Lifeway came in the mail and contained an inflatable mascot and a nice bag (one of those bags you'd take to the beach or Six Flags, goes on the shoulders) and a letter. I thought I signed up for a contest or something but out of all the ideas they got for crafts, mine was chosen and displayed at two VBS conferences/previews as one of 10. I don't know how many ideas they got but mine was in the top 10. Looking back, it's basic but I was very detailed and it's budget-oriented. Anyways, I thought that was cool. It would be really cool to see it in action at FBC Benton or at least in the craft book.
The Cardinals ended their losing streak at 3 and beat the Houston Astros tonight. Though I lived in Houston, and do like the Astros, I'm a Cardinals fan and was glad to see them win one. The young guys came through big with Wainwright pitching very well in his first career start and Chris Duncan getting 3 RBIs including a 2 run HR. Tomorrow Anthony Reyes takes the mound. Go Cardinals!!!
I passed my drug screen for Wal-Mart...I was very concerned about that. Just kidding. I have orientation next week. God provides!
The concert on Wednesday night was good. LOST was good. The Office was good last night (add it to the list of shows I watch now). Still missing Heroes but it comes back before too long. LOST is still my favorite and it's been good to have it on all these weeks in a row until the two hour season finale on May 23...
That's all for this Good Friday post. Remember the real reason for Easter, more than just bunnies and candy...
-Kevin C. Burns
The Cardinals ended their losing streak at 3 and beat the Houston Astros tonight. Though I lived in Houston, and do like the Astros, I'm a Cardinals fan and was glad to see them win one. The young guys came through big with Wainwright pitching very well in his first career start and Chris Duncan getting 3 RBIs including a 2 run HR. Tomorrow Anthony Reyes takes the mound. Go Cardinals!!!
I passed my drug screen for Wal-Mart...I was very concerned about that. Just kidding. I have orientation next week. God provides!
The concert on Wednesday night was good. LOST was good. The Office was good last night (add it to the list of shows I watch now). Still missing Heroes but it comes back before too long. LOST is still my favorite and it's been good to have it on all these weeks in a row until the two hour season finale on May 23...
That's all for this Good Friday post. Remember the real reason for Easter, more than just bunnies and candy...
-Kevin C. Burns
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Cardinals Baseball, Pros and Cons of Satellite, Concert Tomorrow...
Baseball season has arrived. I watched the Cardinals' Opening Night (a 6-1 loss to the Mets) at Clay's house after church. It was fun, would have been better if the Cardinals had won. Currently, they're losing 4-0 to the Mets tonight. They got their rings tonight. I wish I was there and got the replica, they look really cool. I may buy one on eBay later. Currently I'm looking for a World Series Champions patch for my jersey. Found a three pack with the Champions patch, the World Series logo, and the inaugural season patch for $12. Hopefully the price will stay low...
Speaking of the Cardinals, I bought the sports pack from Dish Network to get all the FSN networks + NBA TV. Clay recommended it because Central Arkansas is in the Cardinals home area thus for $6 a month we can watch Cardinals baseball on FSN Midwest. 130 games this season :D. Definitely a satellite advantage...
But there are disadvantages. Like storms. We're currently experiencing the major drawback of satellite TV: lost signal. During the Cardinals and the women's basketball championship no less.
In other news, MercyMe, Audio Adrenaline, and Aaron Shust are coming to the Rock (Little Rock) tomorrow night. Looking forward to seeing AudioA one last time. I missed their concert when they came through one last time in St. Louis so I'll catch them this time. MercyMe is always good and I like Aaron Shust too. Good tour.
Downfall is that I'll miss LOST. Hopefully I'll get to watch it when I get home instead of waiting...
I suppose that's all. I'm going outside to watch the rain...
-Kevin C. Burns
Speaking of the Cardinals, I bought the sports pack from Dish Network to get all the FSN networks + NBA TV. Clay recommended it because Central Arkansas is in the Cardinals home area thus for $6 a month we can watch Cardinals baseball on FSN Midwest. 130 games this season :D. Definitely a satellite advantage...
But there are disadvantages. Like storms. We're currently experiencing the major drawback of satellite TV: lost signal. During the Cardinals and the women's basketball championship no less.
In other news, MercyMe, Audio Adrenaline, and Aaron Shust are coming to the Rock (Little Rock) tomorrow night. Looking forward to seeing AudioA one last time. I missed their concert when they came through one last time in St. Louis so I'll catch them this time. MercyMe is always good and I like Aaron Shust too. Good tour.
Downfall is that I'll miss LOST. Hopefully I'll get to watch it when I get home instead of waiting...
I suppose that's all. I'm going outside to watch the rain...
-Kevin C. Burns
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