Oh yeah, this is why I started a blog...

Two things occurred recently to make me think about my blog again. The first is that I needed a forum to complain about the U.S.-Mexico soccer game. The second was Mitt Romney dropping out of the Republican race for president.

As for the U.S.-Mexico game, two questions. First, since when did our defense suck that badly? Gooch and Bocanegra in the middle were pretty solid, but Moor and Corrales were terrible. I was also really disappointed in the central midfield play of Franklin and Bradley. I don't know if that was a complete starting lineup or not as I haven't seen the U.S. in quite some time. But if that was the best we have to offer, we have a long way to go. Also, note to defenders: Listen to where your goalie wants the wall set up and then stand there. Come on...

As for Romney, I don't want to get into the whole presidential politics issue. For one, I'm going to vote for which ever Republican faces the Communist Democrat candidate for president. Secondly, all the people I kind of liked are out or are in imminent danger of dropping out.

But when I heard Romney was leaving because he thought this would give McCain the best chance to win, I thought of that scene from Top Gun when Iceman is maneuvering for the shot, and Maverick is telling him to break off so that he can take a better shot. Iceman did and Romney did today. Of course, I hope that's as far as the analogy goes because Maverick proceeds to fly right through Iceman's jet-wash, the plane goes down, and Goose dies as a result. (Hmm. Who would be Goose? Maybe Lindsay Graham or Phil Gramm...but I digress.)

All I know is that I desperately want a victorious Republican to be able to stand up on November 4, and say to either Hillary or Obama: "Jester's dead!"

Quote of the Year

"Don't tase me, bro!" Note to Gators: When the cops tell you to roll over and cuff up, roll over and cuff up. And don't call them bro. They don't like it.

Interesting Quote

This from C.S. Lewis' Perelandra, the second book of his space trilogy:

"My fear was now of another kind. I felt sure that the creature was what we call 'good,' but I wasn't sure whether I liked 'goodness' so much as I had supposed. This is a very terrible experience. As long as what you are afraid of is something evil, you may still hope that the good may come to your rescue. But suppose you struggle through to the good and find that it is dreadful? How if food itself turns out to be the very thing you can't eat, and home the very place you can't live and your very comforter the person who makes you uncomfortable? Then, indeed, there is no rescue possible: the last card has been played. For a second or two I was nearly in that condition. Here at last was a bit of that world from beyond the world, which I had always supposed that I loved and desired, breaking through and appearing to my senses: and I didn't like it, I wanted it to go away. I wanted every possible distance, gulf, curtain, blanket, and barrier to be placed between it and me. But I did not fall quite into the gulf."

This is my confession.

I've recently confessed some of my embarrassing music tastes to friends, and these were quite cathartic. So I decided to ride this wave and make two more confessions. The first is that I am really looking forward to receive my copy of the final installment of the Harry Potter series tomorrow. I have been really impressed by these stories and I can't wait to see how the story ends.

The second confession is of a more serious nature. I fear that I may be addicted to Facebook. It makes me feel thinned out, like butter scraped over too much bread. Whenever I'm not logged on, I wonder what is going on with my "friends." I worry about it. I sometimes log on to check it just to make sure it's safe. It has become...precious to me. I am concerned.

Now if you'll excuse me, it's been 15 minutes. I have to check Facebook again...

Onion Brilliance

I just had to share this article entitled "John Edwards Vows to End All Bad Things By 2011."

I Have Returned

Those of you who know me well know that I love to play soccer. However, some time ago I concluded that it was not good for my sanctification to play in the local city leagues. I found myself too often in angry exchanges with other players and found it more and more difficult to enjoy the game. I quit playing in any context except in friendly games with people I know. I made my decision after one particularly ugly exchange during which an opposing player and I, while walking to our respective penalty boxes after a foul, were nose-to-nose with one another, each telling the other exactly what he thought of him in no uncertain terms. As I said, not good for sanctification.

Well, this past week Tiddo asked me if I would be willing to play goalie for his team as they needed players (I should say, desperately needed players, which is why I was called). So for the first time in years, I played in a competitive league game. I enjoyed myself and managed not to have one of the angry exchanges that had become so commonplace when I was a field player. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I did have a collision with an opposing player that I felt he was milking and I did say, "Come on, get up!" But I still consider it a moral personal victory that it was the extent of my comments.

We lost to the other team 4-2, which included a penalty for them, so I wish I could have played a bit better, but I didn't think I was too bad for my first time out in a couple years. (You can ask Tiddo if this is an accurate assessment of my performance.) After allowing 3 goals in the first half, we buckled down and made a game of it until they scored a late penalty.

All in all, it was a good time and I hope I can do it again.

Mark Twain Quote

I came across this and thought you might find it as amusing as I did:

On May 20, 1875, the following notice was published in the Hartford Courant newspaper:

To the Public

TWO HUNDRED & FIVE DOLLARS REWARD--At the great baseball match on Tuesday, while I was engaged in hurrahing, a small boy walked off with an English-made brown silk UMBRELLA belonging to me, & forgot to bring it back. I will pay $5 for the return of that umbrella in good condition to my house on Farmington avenue. I do not want the boy (in an active state) but will pay two hundred dollars for his remains.
-Samuel L. Clemens.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Well, today Reading Week at seminary officially begins. Not that I have the whole week off, I have two exams on Thursday and one on Friday. So I'm trying to figure out why it's called reading week when it is five days at best, but I have enough other stuff to cram into the ol' skull without worrying about that. (Although, it does make you wonder who's running the show over there anyway.)

But while I have some free time, I thought I'd write a few scattered thoughts for you all. It's hard for me to believe that my first year at seminary is coming to a close. It seems like I just quit my job and already that was about nine months ago. At that time, I had no idea what the Hebrew alphabet was and I've already completed Hebrew III and have translated the whole books of Ruth and Jonah. I'm well on my way to compiling a complete BSV (Bill Standard Version...hmmm, on second thought those initials don't make for the best abbreviation. I'll have to work on that...) In any event, it's been a great year. I'm so glad that the Lord has led me to seminary.

Speaking of the end of the year, it was time once again for the annual "Strimple Classic", the end of the year softball event that pits the graduating students and faculty against the rest of the students. The faculty is aided, as always by the always-suspect umpire, but this year they were aided by another Godfrey. Robert dominated in the outfield and was the single-handed defensive MVP. He also hit a homerun.

It was the first time I had played for the student team, as ever since I've been old enough to play ball, I've been employed on the faculty side. For the first time I played against Robert. I won't bore you by breaking down the game. But let's just say that outfield play made all the difference in our losing. I was playing first base so it wasn't my fault. (I know, I know, you win as a team and lose as a team and there's no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E".) Sour grapes? I suppose, but as Vince Lombardi once said, "Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser."

I am looking forward to a summer off from studies. Next step is to look for a job for the summer. Maybe my job at the Ward is still open...

Quote of the Day

Okay, so my blog has taken on a rather negative tone lately. I need to be more positive. That's why my quote of the day will not be Curt Schilling on Barry Bonds, "He cheated on his wife, he cheated on his taxes, he cheated on the game." Rather, my quote of the day come from Calvin's Commentary on Psalm 1:

"According to all outward appearance, the servants of God may derive no advantage from their uprightness; but as it is the peculiar office of God to defend them and take care of their safety, they must be happy under his protection. And from this we may also conclude that, as he is the certain avenger of wickedness, although, for a time, he may seem to take no notice of the ungodly, yet at length he will visit them with destruction. Instead, therefore, of allowing ourselves to be deceived with their imaginary felicity, let us, in circumstances of distress, have ever before our eyes the providence of God, to whom it belongs to settle the affairs of the world, and to bring order out of confusion."

Daily Dose of Depression

Here it is: Roger Clemens is making over $6,000 per hour with his new $28 million contract with the Yankees. Coincidentally, this is the 28 millionth reason I hate the Yankees.