Where I'm At

Well, I've not fallen off the face of the earth or anything. I figured everyone might like to know what I've been up to, and since I somehow managed to find an extra minute or two I decided to write something.

I've been consumed with schoolwork lately. It's absurd. I'm not even kidding. I've never in all my life had so much homework to have to do. I had to quit my job a couple of weeks ago just so I could get it all done. I've been spending every single day not in school just playing catch up with it all, and still just barely being able to finish everything I need to do. I've literally been a nervous wreck about this. I've just been in a constant state of panic that I won't be able to get everything done in time. The other day I was eating and noticed I couldn't stop shaking my hands. I realized I just couldn't get away from that feeling of panic. Due to that, I've intentionally tried to calm down the last couple of days by doing things to get my mind off of school.

I went last night to see the new James Bond film. In case any of you didn't know, I'm a Bond fanatic. I love those movies. I even love the books. I've read just about every one of them Fleming wrote--some of them twice, actually. Bond was even the inspiration for my first book, as a matter of fact. So, what did I think of the movie? It was pretty good, but there were things I disliked about it. It wasn't nearly as good as the last one. This one just had too many over-the-top action sequences in it and not enough story. I was especially disappointed that the gun barrel sequence was missing from the beginning again. It worked in the last film, but I didn't think they pulled its absence off very well in this one. They waited until the very end, where it just seemed sort of out of place. And then some of the things Bond did in the film just was not Bond-like at all. For instance, at one point he throws a deceased colleague into a garbage bin, robs him, and takes off leaving him there, proclaiming he didn't think the man would mind. I cringed watching that scene because it was nothing that Fleming's Bond would ever have done. He just wouldn't have dumped a friend in the garbage like that and took off. That's not cool! But overall the movie was good. I liked it. And I was glad to have finally been able to see it. I'd been waiting in anticipation for months now. Oh, and I guess I should apologize if I've ruined it for anyone just now. I might should have made the disclaimer previously.

On a few other points of interest, I was thoroughly disappointed on election night. I was not in support of Barrack Obama at all. I didn't cry by McCain's defeat though, because I personally thought he ran a fairly poor campaign, and the loss was pretty much expected. But, nevertheless, it was rather depressing. Of the two men, I really don't think either was any count, but I did feel like McCain would do a better job cleaning up some of the corruption in Washington and getting at least a hint of bipartisanship back into the system. I really don't know that Obama will be able to do that. I also liked McCain's plans for the housing market, which is something Obama opposed. But as I said, overall neither man impressed me. I was just voting for who seemed to me to be the lesser of two evils. I'll freely admit I may have been blindsided or prejudiced in my decision. I don't say prejudiced because of Obama's skin color--I could care less--but because I'm Republican. I wanted the elephant to win.

I was also disappointed by the Proposition 8 decision and the other similar ballot measures that passed. Now, I'm not a supporter of gay marriage per se, but I don't think the government has any right to legislate such a thing. For one, it shows a bias against homosexuals. I say that because the government will willingly recognize just about any form of heterosexual relationship, but the minute homosexuality is hinted at, it slams its fist down. And I'm rather bothered by the Christian response out of all this. Don't Christians know how their fighting gay marriages causes homosexuals to dislike and distance themselves from them? Allow people to live and let live. What harm does this really do anyone, but the ones who want it? And just how does any Christian think that opposing gay marriages will lead any gay person closer to Christ? All this does is reinforce the idea to homosexuals that Christians are the enemy. It turns homosexuals away from them. And, really, who could blame them? So, why not allow gay marriages? Why not allow homosexuals to have what they want? It doesn't mean you have to stop trying to reach out to them to win them for Christ. It just means you're not going to be in their face every waking moment of the day, dictating how they are to live their lives. Now, just to make clear, I don't approve of gay marriages. I don't think that's in line with God's wishes. But I dislike the ban on gay marriages because I do think it's an injustice to peoples freedoms and personal beliefs. And I find it appalling to think of Christians trying to impose their religious and moral beliefs on others by helping pass legislation of this kind that serves no other purpose but that.

I'll say more on this subject later, so please don't jump to any wild conclusions just yet. There's much more I plan on saying soon about this.

So anyway, that's all for now. I will just ask that anyone interested please be praying for me. I've been so busy with school stuff that it's just been hard for me to find time for friends and family lately. I feel as though I've probably alienated some of them. I couldn't really help it. If I'd made more time for them I wouldn't have got my schoolwork done, so I hope they understand. Heck, the Bond movie was actually the first fun thing I've been able to do in weeks now, and thankfully I was able to include my dad and brother in that little outing. But because of all this stuff I've just felt so alone these last couple of months. I just feel as if I don't have anyone, and it's really starting to get at me a bit. You can imagine what temptations this has brought on me. So, yeah, please be praying, for me and for my family. We could all use it right about now, I think.

God bless, and hopefully it won't take me so long to write again.