Rich-WHAT? Richmond. Rich-WHAT? Richmond.

I'm not sure if I have told any of you this before, but I DID meet Samuel L. Jackson over Christmas break. Samuel's probably only called me on the phone a dozen times since then. He only calls when he needs advice about movies or girls-stuff like that. I usually don't tell anyone cause to me, it's not that big of a deal. I guess some people get excited about movie stars, well not me. I guess after your sister is on Fear Factor, your girlfriend on Price is Right, and Samuel L. Jackson gives your phone number out to all his Hollywood friends, it gets a little old.

Anyway, Samuel gave me a ring today; this is how it went down:

SLJ: What up J, how you been? I haven't seen you since the golf tourney in Hawaii.
J: Holla back Jack, you know how I roll.

SLJ: So how you been homie?
J: I been chillin'... what about you? You make any movies lately?

SLJ: Yeah Dawg, you best go out and see my new flick, Coach Carter. It's the shizzz.
J: For real? I got this girl who might want to PAR-TIC-I-PATE, you know; I'll check it.

SLJ: Who you rollin' with these days? That same one? You ain't spittin' your game no longer?
J: Naaa boooy. I'm just sittin'. She all right.

So I went and I have a few things to say. I was really happy with SLJ's role as Coach Carter. He had class and gave everyone respect. He wouldn't let his players say "the n-word" because he said how degrading it is. A few people could learn a lesson from him (smiley :).

Also, the movie never turned racial; it was never a conflict where white, rich boys would pick on the black, inner-city kids. Coach Carter of Richmond High gave the black kids a positive role model; I was impressed.

I didn't cry, and I didn't make fun of squatting runners; but I had a great time.

So take your pick, movie reviews are a dime a dozen these days. But, if you feel you got nuthin' to do and you want to chill wit some fat beats, you know where to go.

Icehouse & Sonic

At first glance, this post could possibly be about Sonic the Hedgehog getting a little tipsy. But, there is a dead give away that tells you that I am not talking about my favorite Sega character drinking—he wouldn't drink Icehouse. First of all, Tails would be very upset if he had to drink Icehouse with Sonic, Tails would say, "I help you pick up all those stupid coins and you buy a thirty pack for $10.99. I mean seriously, I'm a fox."

No, no, I had a different type of encounter with Sonic last night; I was his master and controller. I went to lake Okoboji to go ice fishing and we stayed at a friend's house, right on the lake. I had a great time going back and forth from the little icehouse to the real house--walking on water!! But that's not where I ran into Sonic. I found out that one of the TV's in the house had a Sega hooked up to it, and instantly, I was soon hooked up to the Sega. I played Sonic the Hedgehog for hours, sometimes with others, sometimes by myself, but I didn't care. I was reliving my junior high years, completing levels like "Hill Top" & "Casino Night", and remembering to free all the little cute animals at the end of each level.

Yes, of course the ice fishing was neat. It was my first time walking on a frozen lake and cramming in an icehouse with 15 guys. But come-on, what would you do? Would you step down to Mr. Robotnik?

You're kidding, right?

While browsing across the www, I came across the most ridiculous post on 'myspace'. It almost drove me to the point of violence. Listen to this junior high girl (I'm assuming) make herself feel better, it's hilarious:

1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. If not for you, someone may not be living.
8. You are special and unique.
9. Someone that you don't even know exists, loves you.
10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it.
13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
14. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know. 15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

My personal fav is either #3 or #11; I can't decide. Either way, I feel better about myself now. Well, I'm off to bed, according to #5, I'll be thinking of one of you (or maybe Star Jones and a nice warm hot tub).

Red & Yellow, Black & White (we're all precious...)

I am happy to announce a great friend of mine has now joined the blog-o-sphere; L-train himself is on the information highway.

I couldn't help noticing that the template for his blog looks very similar to these two items. Maybe it's just me, but Aaron, if he starts reading Mein Kampf, we all need to get a little more worried.

Tonight was an ETM meeting (Early Teen Ministries) at the local CRC, and we had a blast. We played Mafia 'til our fingers bled.

Kyle and I drove around earlier this afternoon and took some pictures, he got some good ones, I didn't. We went here.

But seriously, Lawren, now that your in Europe, I have some important advice. Don't settle for some crazy left-winged hippie, your better than that.

I'd like to introduce you to my new friend—Globalization

Yes, I'm going to say it, I LOVE globalization. Whatcha gonna do Lawren, you're miles and miles away? You and your little buddy Ted Kennedy can't do anything, cause we all know what he's probably doing right now--HICCUP.

Globalization is the increasing interconnectedness of people and places through converging processes: political, economic and so on... Without it, I would not be able to hear from Aaron everyday. And despite what Lawren says, he loves it too. Sure globalization carries a little baggage but hey, "If you want to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs", right?

"Tell'm George"
-Donnie Darko

I got 99 problems but Aaron ain't one

By the time Aaron reads this, he will be in Holland. I am extremely happy for him and I want him to have the best time, full of many experiences. But, at the same time, I want my time here to pass quickly. The sooner I come home, the sooner we can be reunited.

So pray for Aaron, Jessica, Chad, Lawren, Joe Tiersma, and all the other Dordt students in Holland, when you get a chance (everyday). They'll be doing a lot of traveling and I want them home safe.

AND—to all you new Europeans, a little advice:

Don't bathe, let your hair grow long, buy a trench coat, and ditch your shoes. Make sure you know what types of desserts are ok—Space Brownies from the local "coffee shop" are no good, simple indulge in these.

And of course in the words of Mrs. Cooper, "Be safe, be good, and have fun."

You lose, I Quinn

8 o'clock class periods can go really well if you have an entertaining professor and I have Gary Vander Plaats. Today, in the middle of Personal Finance, he said, "Hey, did you guys ever watch "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman"?

At that moment, I was transported back to a Friday night, sitting on the couch with my whole family, watching TGIF. We would laugh; we would cry. We would even embrace each other in "bear hugs" during commercials. Those were the days when my biggest worry was missing a "toss" from Mrs. Hickox and being hit in the face with a starburst.

GVP continued to say, "Remember that time Sully threw that axe..." But I was gone--thinking of a time when Jane Seymour not only fixed the deer with the gunshot wound, but fixed my little, broken junior high heart.

Sinful weather?

Just now, my face has once again, become warm. I have been sitting inside the library for about 15 minutes and I am now, finally thawed. Those who has never felt the pain of walking in northwest Iowa in the middle of January, I envy you. But while I was walking to the library in -15 degree wind, cursing the freezing wind, I thought to myself, "Has the world always been like this?"

I was thinking in the context of the fall of man. Yes, we all know that Eve pulled Adam down with her but what was the weather like? Now I am sure the Garden of Eden was precisely that, a garden, but I am talking about 'East of Eden’—what was the rest of the world like?

Were their places like Iowa? Were winters terribly bitter and unbearable? I don't think anyone on earth enjoys walking outside right now. Show me someone who likes walking outside in negative degrees and I will show you a looney!

All of creation was affected by the fall, correct? Tsunami's, mudslides, avalanches—OH MY!

It reminds me a bit of what my friend Michael Horton wrote in the Modern Reformation (I spend to much time on Bill's Blog) in an article called Singing the Blues with Jesus. If you haven’t read it yet, you should—R.C. has.

Help me with my Pod-blem

I think I want an iPod.

I know two faithful iPodders that will quickly urge me to follow in their footsteps. No, Cooper does not count as two people just because he bought more than one iPod. I am talking about Cooper AND Bill. If you haven't read Bill's latest blog about the beauty of the iPod, I strongly suggest reading that right now.

Now, I am not a rash person. I have thought this through. I will definitely use it in my car, while riding dirt bikes and mountain bikes, and while jogging. But I still want advice--here's what I am thinking right now:

I am thinking I will throw down the $250 and get a iPod mini. It only holds 1o00 songs but it is small and I could use it while I am jogging. Plus it's adorable. I may wait to purchase the iTrip and just use a tape adapter till I feel justified for spending more money.

So what do you guys think? Am I right to go with the iPod mini? Should I spend the extra $50 for the standard iPod which holds 5000 songs? Will the size of the "normal iPod" be too big? I need your input.

Looking Back...

Thinking back on my Christmas break, I really had a great time but I never shared with my bloggers all the fun I had, so now, I will tell you all about it.

I spent some time in Hawaii, which many of you know. We had a great time even though we had a few days of rain.

Also, for any golf fans, I went to the Mercedes Pro/Am (in Hawaii) and I saw Tiger, Els, Daley, Appleby, and many other greats. But the person that I was most excited about seeing isn't even a golfer, he is an actor. See if you recognize this:

"Nobody's gonna hurt anybody. We're gonna be like three little Fonzies here. And what's Fonzie like? Come on Yolanda what's Fonzie like?"

Yes, that's right. I saw Samuel L. Jackson. I shook his hand and he had quite a firm grip. Remember him? He was in Jurassic Park and Deep Blue Sea... What else did I do?

I gave Kelley a gift that she absolutely loved, Aaron and I rode (work safe)... I cooked a turkey underground... I golfed... And watched my mom shoot more clay pigeons that I did... I met someone (Luke, guess how old...) I helped Cooper steal a car (he did most of the work)...

I miss home, but I especially miss all my boyz. Remember Zack's cut out of Kelly, the one where she is in her volleyball uniform and has a ball under her arm? I have one of each of you. Cooper is holding a wrench (with his dirty, dirty hands), Luke a computer, Aaron all the money that we just made off of Apple (in one dollar bills), and Eric is holding Aaron.

All that mail is for me?

I checked my mail today and boy was I surprised.

My mailbox was packed full of letters, magazines, and even small packages. I went to the mail lady and she pulled out a box full of even more mail because all my package didn't fit in the little box.

It took my faithful friend Jim Brinks, his backpack, me, my packpack and we had all of the "goodies" back to the room. Apparently, I recieve the magazine Hispanic something or other and Black entertainment. If you know me at all, neither of these magazines suit me very well...

Here today, gone to-Maui

I don't have much time to post but I wanted to ensure the world that I am home safe from Hawaii. I may post more later, on the situations that the Tiersma family "got themselves into." As a matter of fact, I will post more later along with some pictures.

But for now, I'll write just a bit:

I was surprised at the number of conch shells and their importance in Hawaiian events. After our church service started with the "blowing of the conch shell", I had a sudden urge to run to the beach and dance around a camp fire, followed by tossing a rock down a hill on a fat kid named Piggy. Of course, I didn't do this because the hand holding/circle of love/singing songs prohibited me from this.

Oh, Luke, check aapl today...