Dirty Hippy or Unkempt Shepherd?

Have you ever wondered what I would look like with long hair? This is my wig for the play... haha! Just thought you all might like a sneak peek! For those of you interested The play is at Rolling Hills Community Church at 7:30... I believe (I will double check on the times) November 29th (Thursday) - December 2nd (Sunday) with a possible Sunday matinee.

Let's see... What else can I tell you.. Oh I went on a first date last night with this awesome girl! I do not know if things are going to go anywhere, both of us are so busy and she lives in Corvallis (2 hours from me) but she works up here on the weekends and goes to The Way. I know I talked about The Way in my last post, but I love it so much I am going to talk about it again. It is my blog and I can do that :) The teaching is phenomenal! I mean it! here check it out for yourselves! You can listen to them here: http://srfchurch.org/theway/teachings/ Alright gang, I am off to rid the world of contraband. Not really, just wanted to use the word "contraband." How often do you get to use it. really..

-Danny

I'm Sorry

So, I know this posting has been a LONG time in coming, but it is here. Let's see, where to begin? A lot has happened since April. I sold my car and got a new one. Today is the first day of my last year as an undergrad. Summer was nice, I went to school for most of it. I was dating someone for a few months, emphasis on was. I have just started going to this awesome college group/ youth service called The Way. There are about 800 18-28 year olds who attend on Friday nights. Really really awesome and I am really excited to get started with this. I still lead a group of middle school students, they are in 8th grade this year. That began last night, it was awesome. It is going to be a great year at Extreme (that is what the JR high is called, appropriate title I think) I'm in a new play. It is a Christmas play. I am a singing and dancing shepherd.... yes. So needless to say it would be worth your while to make it down to see that, cause I can almost guarantee you that it will not happen again. They must have caught me at a weak moment when I agreed to do this. It is a Christmas play and should be fun and entertaining. My knee is doing well, thankfully I can still be very active. Spiritually, I am well too. I mean I still struggle with the same ol' crap that always gets me down, some days are better than others. Just a constant reminder of how much I need Jesus and a community of Christ followers to fill all those great roles that they do in our lives. But this year is going to be full of a lot of changes and God has really been doing a lot to prepare me for this. Well, I would love to continue, but I must off to class. I love you all.

-Danny

Well, I'm still alive

Sorry Caleb, I pulled though. Look on the bright side... oh there has to be one somewhere, just keep looking.

Anyway, yes, the surgery went very well. I do not remember a thing and I came out with both my legs attached. (Two things I was worried about the reverse happening) Oh and they operated on the correct leg too. But, I have good news and bad news. I will start with the bad, the tare in my lateral (outside) meniscus was too great and they could not fix it. They removed a big chuck of floating cartledge, about 2 cm long and 1cm wide. That little guy was causing all the problems. So, I will be able to resume my daily activities soon. However, I will never be able to run that marathon I had been working towards for the last few years... That was the hardest to hear. It is not that I could not go out and run the 26.2 miles in one go, but since that is impossible for me at this current state of fitness I will not be able to do it. It would be really bad for my knee to go through the training for it. Onto the Good! I am not it a brace because there was nothing to fix!!! so the healing time will be much much faster and I will not have to go through near as much physical therapy. I will only have to be on crutches for two weeks. In other good news, the drugs they gave me are really really good... So I hope all is well with you all. I will be in touch.
-Danny

Surgery!

So, nothing new has happened with the girls. I'm sorry to all you who had your hopes up for me. I did too. I did meet someone else though, her name is Dana, and she works at Seattle's Best Coffee, I drink a lot of coffee apparently. I did ask her out, but had to cancel because of school and then I hurt my knee. Here is where the surgery part comes in, but I will tell you the whole story.

So, Valentines Day, I deliver flowers for my aunt who owns a florist every year. I have for the past ten years. Anyway, I am bending down to pick up a box of flowers and my right knee feels like it pops out of joint! Now it has done this before, but this time it stayed out! I tried to force it back in by walking on it and using my weight to push it, but I just nauseated myself. I nauseated myself to the point where I had to sit down. Then I proceeded to black out. While I was blacked out apparently my arms when up over my head and I went into a full body convulsion. That's right, arms and legs flailing about with no abandon! I unfortunately do not remember any of this. When I came to, my cousin asked me if I was alright and I told him that I thought that I had just blacked out. He then was relieved because he though my flailing was me just being frustrated with the pain. He said, "Good, I didn't think you were a drama queen" So then he asked if I though I should go to the hospital, I said no. I think I will be ok although I should probably go to a Chiropractor because they will be able to see me sooner and not cost as much as the ER. The Chiropractor I normally go to was sick, of course, so I went to this other guy he recomended, Dr. Dawson. Dr. Dawson worked on me for 45 minutes and could not get my knee to unlock. So I went home, in excruciating pain and my knee finally let go that evening at about 9:30. So I went back the next day and he popped it back in and the tells me to come back in a week.

One week later, I go back and he is working on it stretching it and he locks it up again! He was able to get it about half unlocked. But, since I was there for so long then, his assistant came and was working on me and he locked it up for a second time. I know they were trying to help, but I was so mad! This was an 8:30 am appointment and the rest of my day was ruined because I could not put any weight at all on my knee (way too painful). It did not unlock that evening, but when I woke up the next morning I was able to walk on it again.

So I went on Monday to the hospital to have an MRI. Cool process by the way. The machine uses the water in my body and magnets to look at my muscles and ligaments, not x ray technology.

I got the results back today and I went to a specialist and the news was good and bad. Good that it is a relatively simple surgery and will only last an our. It will be done at an out patient clinic, so no hospital time! yay! The bad new is that I will have to be in a brace for a month to keep my leg straight at all times! After that I will need intense physical therapy because my right leg muscles will deteriorate a lot from lack of use. What really sucks is that I am going to miss the New York Trip my cousin, my aunt and I were going to take my grandma on. She is 82 and has never been off the West Cost. It has been a dream of hers to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to see where her parents immigrated in from. I can not describe to you the hurt in my heart for not getting able to do this. She is such a special person to me and I wanted to be apart of this so badly. I am not a crier, but today I have cried a lot. It has all been a lot to take. So if I come to mind please pray for me. Thank you guys for being such great support. I love you all.

-Danny

Oh what a Tangled Web we Weave

So... Here is what has happened so far... I called Christine (the girl who ignored me) and she did not answer... big surprise.. so I left a message. It went something around these lines, "Hey Christine, its Danny. I was just calling because I wanted to talk to you. I don't think we really hit it off the other night, but I was wondering if you would give me Crystal' (the girl who is really cool) number. Anyway, I'd still like to hang out with you sometime, but you know, just as friends. Call me or text me. Thanks"

NOW before you all fly off the handle let me explain my reasoning behind such a move. First off all, I wanted to have the last word and be the rejecter (I know, not the nicest thing to do... but oh well) I knew she would never call me back. I mean who would! But I figured two things. First, since they work together at the same Starbucks, I figured that Christine would tell Crystal. Something like, "Can you believe that Jerk. He called and asked me for Your Number!" so Crystal will know what is going on (and hopefully be flattered). So when I go into the Starbucks here in a week or so. I will be able to read Crystals body language and see if maybe she is interested. I will also apologies and be charming to Christine, maybe joke about what I did and make fun of myself a little, because that always works with people. They love it when you can joke about yourself or your "dumb actions"

All this is honestly becoming a little too complicated for me. So much freakin effort! But I keep telling myself it is worth it.... I cannot take all the credit for my actions. I have asked several people what to do and this is the option I chose. So if it doesn't work, well I will try something else next time. I feel like I am a little behind with this stuff, that most guys learn this in high school. Oh well, I just hope I learn a little faster than I would have in high school.

In other news I am a TV Show talk show host! Well, co-host. It is a local cable show called "Sandy Times" it is about the goings on in Sandy, Oregon... I film my first episode this Saturday, so we will see where this takes me. I am thinking the Today Show. Matt Lauer needs me to replace him. Well this is long enough and I need to go and do my homework. I will update you all again soon.

-Danny

Dear Abby (or whoever answers)

So I went on my date tonight, i just got back. It was canceled the other night, but then was rescheduled for tonight and I had a really good time... with her friend... yikes! This was a first date. We had talked on the phone a few times, but that was it. She ignored me almost the entire time. We went to this Bar/Club which was really fun. She knew a bunch of guys there from high school, one of them an old boyfriend and she was flirting with him a lot, and vise-versa. She never made eye contact with me and I do not think she is that shy. She was also always texting other people too. So consequently I talked to her friend a lot and I think we clicked, the only thing is that the friend is 4 years older than me... Total awesome Christian girl and real!!! that is so hard to find in a Christian girl (well since i left capernwray anyway) I don't mind the age thing, but she might. I didn't ask her for her number there, I thought it might be bad form, since I was suppose to be there with the other girl. So I will try and get it later. I know where she works, but the girl I was on the date with works there too (both at the same Starbucks) so this is where I need your help... how do I go about doing this!?!

sincerely,
Women Confuse Me

Long Awaited

My Sister going to Homecomming... I know. I have to beat the Boys off!!!

Not Quite the Portland Marathon, but the 5 miler. I took 12th in my age group... not too shabby. I still want to do a marathon, but I am not there yet. The longest I have run is 11 miles, I still have a long way to go before 26.2

Here is my brother and I at Halloween. I had a costume party and won best costume! Gotta love the Mullet!

So I promised an update and here we go. Sorry about never posting last term, School was nuts! I did well though and I made it through... obviously. It has begun again and I think I am going to enjoy this term much better!

Winter break was really nice. The day after school got out I flew back to England, where I stayed with Mr. Steven Tomkins and his wonderful family. I saw a few people and visited Capernwray, where I got a much warmer reception than I anticipated. It was really nice to go back, but very strange at the same time. Everything smells the same, but all the faces are different and the students seem so young this year. They all seem directly out of high school. Still very enjoyable none the less.

I have a new vice. My brother hooked me on the online game of World Of Warcraft. It is so Nerdy, but oh so enjoyable! It is kind of expensive because you have to pay monthly dues, but I leech off him and it isn't so bad.

I recently read two amazing books which I highly recommend, the first was Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell and the second was 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. Very insightful, both of them. Rob Bell is an outside the box thinker and I like that about the book. 90 minutes in heaven is not some makeout game you play in high school (although I was never cool enough to play those games in high school...) It is about this Baptist Minister who died and went to heaven... I know, I wasn't sure about it at first either, but it is more about how it has effected his ministry here. I have also read half of Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller. Hysterical!

Well, I am going to go. I have a date... more on that later.

DATO! is now DEGRAW!

I would like to give a shout out to my good friend Kristy, who many of you know because you went to Capernwray (Capenberry Rebecca) with her. She got Married last night and I had the distinct pleasure of attending the festivities. It was a really beautiful ceremony at the Crown Ball Room in down town p-town. It was an evening wedding and they served amazing deserts! I saw some old friends I have not seen in years and got the chance to reconnect with people who I have not had the chance to do so with all summer. It was really great and I wish them the best. Anyway if you wish to offer your congratulations on her blog she is Linked under DEGRAW (formerly the DATO link) I just think she is great and I am very very happy for her and Jacob (the husband, who I do not know but seems like a really great guy) And Kristy I will try to remember to shout out DeGRAW now when I see you and not DATO.

(the picture is of us almost exactly two years ago on the plane waiting to take off for England)

Awesome Video!

Do you ever have more treadmills than you know what to do with? If so click on the picture!!!

HA!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!!

School is finally out for the summer!!! well summer school is finally out for the summer... I now have a month to get back to my usual routine of stalking and being the bogeyman (staring at you Mayer!)

I have to take a moment to complain about computer science people though, get comfy this may take a while ... sorry to those who I offend, but lets be honest with each other, you deserve it. You know it.. come on... So I completed my final on Wed for my one and only computer science class I have to take and I had one more project (computer program) due by midnight on Thursday. I had to design a phone book program. I needed to be able to enter in peoples information, save it, then search for it and have it pop up. Sounds simple, and most of it was but there was one little part I couldn't get. So I go to my professors office during his office hours on Wed, before the final, and he is not there. "Oh well" I am thinking I will just catch him after the final. After I take the final he tells me to come by his office around 2:30 and he will help me out. Mind you I have the whole thing done but one button programmed, the search button. I have no flippin clue on how to search through the phone book. So he sits down with me and my laptop and tells me to look at his notes he gave to the class and there would be an example. (I have been over these notes 100 times and I know there is nothing there) To appease him I looked and then told him I didn't see anything. So he took them and looked and then said, "hmmm... I guess you're right. I didn't include that... oh well, you'll figure it out. Listen I am going to run over to Taco Del Mar and I'll check back on you in a little bit." (Thanks Buddy! I am thinking in my head) There was another student sitting at the table with me who was in my class and working on a different problem with his project (I later learned he was going way above and beyond what the directions called for and was getting help on that) I asked to borrow his text book and when he didn't give it too me I back-handed the little dunch and kicked him in the teeth... Kidding just seeing if you were still reading... He gave it to me and told me "ch 11 I would find most useful" Who talks like that!?! He asked me if I understood what I was doing, I replied "is it that obvious?" He laughed and said lets take a look. I am thinking great! someone to help me get this thing done. Well, I guess he felt like making this a "teaching moment." He only asked me questions in order for me to think for myself. which I really don't mind when I do want to understand what I am doing. At this point however, I just want to finish this class and be done with it! He drags this out for an hour and a half!!!! AHHH!!! for all of 4 lines of code. Then I did back hand him and took his left nipple as penance. That'll learn him. Oh I forgot after all that it still didn't work so I went and tracked down my professor and I just had entered the code in the wrong order and then it was fine. AHHHH!

Whew... that felt good.

Love and Marriage California Style!

So this time I just attended a wedding, I was not the officiant. It was the wonderful union of Jón and Marisa! Although I did get the honor of being the MC for the reception, which was fun. It was crazy though. They (meaning you Miss RAY!) gave me a piece of paper after the ceremony right before the reception which had the order of events on it... no more.. but no less and said,"ok, make it work." So I did my best with what I had and I hope it was alright.

The whole weekend was really nice. I got to see loads of people from Capernwray (sorry, Capenberry Rebecca) which until then I was not sure if I would ever see again, this side of heaven anyway. I was very bummed that I did not get to see Beth though, she was suppose to be there, but missed her connecting flight due to no fault of her own. I rented a car, which was f-ing expensive (only because I am under 25), but they upgraded me because they didn't have any more of the cheap ones that I had reserved. So I got to cruise around in a Ford Escape all weekend. It was pretty sweet! La Jolla is incredibly beautiful. I had such a fun time, It was really nice to get away from school. I did do homework on the plane, both ways, but that doesn't count. Oh! I forgot to mention how amazingly talented Jón's family is! They all (well not his dad) sang and/or played an instrument for the wedding. They were not just good, they were really good. I was blown away.

Did I mention how great it was to see everyone? I love all of those people so much (Janice, BJ, Jeff, Courtnay, Elin, Chelsea, Daveo, Ben, Luke, Heidi, Dana, Brittany, Shawana and of course Jón and Marisa,) Well, now I need to get back to school work. I only have two more weeks then I am done with these classes!!! wooohooooo! There will be pictures to follow, so check back, but I do not have access to the pictures here at school.

It is summer... I am in school...

I know that I have told you all before in previous posts that I am in summer school, but that does not make it any more "cool." I hate it (because I am there right now) and I love it at the same time. I am getting these classes out of the way in literally a fraction of the time It would take me during a normal term, but I am not really enjoying my summer. My family is leaving today to go camping at Detroit Lake in central Oregon for two weeks. This is our 11th (or 12th.. I don't remember) year going and I am not going to be there. MAN! well I will get to go up for the day now and then, but I have those pesky classes I cannot miss because they are so condensed.

I have just completed my first week of a four week course. It is Monday through Friday 8:00am to 9:50am. Managerial Accounting. It is not as bad as it sounds. It is better than the 8 week class I am in right now that is the Basics of Computer Programming. I would just like to make the official statement that I am not a programmer; nor have I ever been one, or do I ever intend on being one.

So enough of the pity party. I am really excited that I am going to California this weekend!!! Woohooo!!! I am going to San Diego for Jon and Marisa's Wedding. That should be really neat!

Well I really need to stop procrastinating and do my homework and study for my midterm tomorrow. Until next time Planeteers, The Power is Yours!

-Danny

Oh Canada!

Well, sorry it has been so long since I last posted. I have been busy with summer classes and work. Wooohooo! I did however have a good time last weekend when I drove up to Calgary to visit people. It was kind a spur of the moment thing. (I am Sorry Allison that I missed your birthday) I was talking to Rob Cox on the phone and he said that I should come up to Canada this weekend (meaning last weekend) and I thought about it and decided that it would be fun (This was on Tuesday). So I looked at flights and it was way too expensive to fly so I borrowed my moms car and drove 14 hours to Calgary. I left my house at 4:45 in the morning on Thursday and got my first ever speeding ticket by 5:50am. I was going 80 in a 65... whoops... I was so excited to go up to Canada it didn't ruin my day at all. So I then continued on my journey, a bit slower, and what a beautiful drive it was. I mean wow! Except for Idaho, what a hole! I got stuck at a traffic light for 15 minutes. It must have broke. I was about five cars back and we were turning left. It cycled through the other cars several times. Eventually everyone in line just started going where there was a break in traffic. All I was thinking was that I really didn't need another ticket, however this did not stop me from turning left on a red light. The Border patrol man was really nice. He was an older gentleman who when looking at my passport saw that I had been to Capernwray and asked me about it and then made sure I wasn't bringing in any alcohol or tobacco or large weapons of mass destruction. So needless to say I had to turn in all of my weapons of mass destruction and pick them back up on my way back into the country. They held them for me, I thought that was nice. However, my plot to take over Canada was foiled again! The rest of the drive was really nice through the Rockies. I enjoyed it until about hour 12; then I was just tired of driving. It is amazing how many CDs you can listen to in 14 hours and how you even let the bad songs play just to fill the time. Once I got to Calgary I stayed with Jeff and his family, who by the way rock! I also saw Tyler, J, Kyle, Lisa, Diana, Jackie, and Rob Cox. It was a fantastic time! Well, this post is long enough if you want to know more details you will have to ask me later.

-Danny

Something

So not much going on with me, sorry it has been a while since I posted last. I am back in school. Summer School sucks! Oh I did meet Luis Palau, he came and spoke to my college group bible study, somebody had connections. It was the first time I have ever been star struck. What an amazing evangelist. Lets see.. what else. I can't think of anything blog worthy. I am kind of tired so I think I am going to go to bed. Later
-Danny

My TV Commercial

Here is my commercial. I am very proud of it. Sorry for the short post, but I think the commercial will say enough. Ha! I love It. Click on the type of player you want to view it on.

Windows Media Player

QuickTime player

What kind of Pirate are Ye?

Ok so I cannot take the credit for finding this, because my friend Rebecca did but you all need to take it! It is hysterical and frighteningly accurate! Also tell me what type of Pirate you are. It is only like 7 or 8 questions.

TAKE THE QUIZ!

This is me.. I think it is a remarkable resemblance ;)

Now taking applications

Well, I have an open slot in my television viewing schedule now that my beloved Alias is no more. Any suggestions as to what I should fill the void with? And don't answer with "Jesus" all you little Bible Schoolers! I know I commented about Alias' Finale on Janice's and Josh's blogs, but I felt I should give a little tribute to it here. Hey! Marisa gave one to that girl from the OC (Misha Barton?). I will not give anything away if you have not seen the last Alias yet, but I liked it. Well most of it. There was one of the three deaths that I was really not happy with, but I was very pleased with what happened to Sloane! Overall it was a good time for it to end, this season was kind of weak.

I have a confession to make to Janice and Josh... I had already replaced my need of espionage when Alias failed to deliver with... 24. What a good show!!! Did anyone else watch it this season? Jack Bower Rocks! In a different kind of way than Sydney. Still what a cool guy!

One more thing. I got my plane tickets to California Today for Jon and Marisa's Wedding, who else is going and where are you staying?

Your ad goes here!

So here I am once again, avoiding homework. I thought these pictures were really cool so enjoy. Well the first one anyway, the second one is kind of sad, who has felt like that before?, hands? ... Just me... ok I figured as much. Anyway, not much new with me. I am starting running again and I have found a new marathon training buddy, so I am hopefully back on track with that. I can't remember if I told you all or not that my last group bailed on me. hmmm imagine people not wanting to force themselves to run 26.2 miles... (I know it is hard for you to fathom Jill, but there are people out there who do not like to run like we do) But this guy is an ex-marine and is training for a triathlon right now, so needless to say he is dedicated. I have seven weeks to get myself back up to ten to twelve miles and I will start training with him. Well I do really need to stop avoiding the inevitable and do my French homework now. Talk to you soon , Je vous aime.

-Danny

The Weekend Update with Danny

I had the greatest weekend. To begin on Friday, my friend Rebecca and I went out and got a few beers and a bite to eat. That was good. Then on Saturday I filmed the most awesome commercial. I had a really big part in it too. For all of you in Oregon and Washington you will get to see it, oh probably part of Idaho too. It will start airing in a few weeks. It was a spot for Columbia Credit Union. There were four spots (different commercials) filmed over the weekend I was in one of them. The whole concept of this one that banking is more than just the re-enactment of the fall of the Ming Dynasty during lunch break. hahah it is hysterical! I am the customer in the line waiting to be helped and all of a sudden these bank employees dressed as warriors come running in from all directions and start fighting with obviously foam swords and cheesy oriental costumes. I am the only one in line and you see me turn around in shock and horror at what is going on as all of this fighting is happening around me. HAHAH it was awesome. I guess the best part was that I got to do it with my family. Four of my cousins were in it too. Two of them were tellers behind the counter shooting arrows at people. One was a customer being helped and another was a random warrior. My cousins husband was the creative genius behind these spots. He works for the ad agency that produced these so he got me the gig. Its all about who you know. I did not get paid, but I had a more featured part than some of the paid actors. So I thought that was pretty cool! Two of the other commercials were dragon boat jousting, and one where hippies were secretly planting a forest of bamboo and running from the forest ranger. What a great time. I will try and post it on here so you can see it (can I do that does anyone know how to post a video on the blog?) I don't have it yet, it will be a while before I get a copy.
Oh the weekend is not over. On Sunday I got up early and with some the cast of a skit I am in at Church in a service coming up in two weeks we went down town Portland and fed breakfast to the homeless for two hours. It was so amazing and really good food too. We went and helped this organization which is out of some seventh day adventist church who does this every Sunday morning in O'bryant square just north of the Park Blocks from 8 to 10. There were five grills going and we made french toast and hash browns for between 500 and 1000 people. All the food and supplies are donated by Albertsons. I do have to say that I am a french toast master. It was so cool there was so much food to give to these people and really good food too. Sometimes the food given to them from other organizations is crap. Anyway it was a great experience. Well, i am off to bed. Ya'll come back now, hear?

-Danny

P.S Awesome quote I heard this weekend from church "Serving others is not just showing God's love, it is showing God love." There is a little nugget I thought was neat.

Not Much Happening

So there is not a whole lot new going on. I just wanted to post to let you all know I am still alive and functioning. Lets see... My car went back into the shop yesterday... I swear it loves that place. Anyway long story short, the new water pump was too big and it threw the alternator belt. So my car over heated in like five minutes to where my radiator fluid was boiling... last I checked not a good sign. Anyway so this was just a fluke they stuck a new one on today that was 1/4 of an inch shorter and it fit perfect and everything works. Plus this was all covered under warranty !!! so it was free!!! I love those mechanics down there they are so good to me. So Angie rides again.
In other world news I do have a prayer request. I have decided to join my college bible study group in their missions/ work relief trip to the south this summer. Yes I am going to be in Alabama the second week of August, I think I might die. If the humidity does not kill me I'm sure the swamp snakes will. I am going to help with the rebuilding process which is still underway after Katrina. They say it will probably take years to complete and some places that are below sea level will not even be bothered with. So with my limited skill (and by limited I mean none) I will be gutting a house for a week. I also have to raise 1000.00 in support for me to go to cover airfare, food, and supplies. So if you could pray for that too, I would appreciate it because I have none of it.
Well I am off to a study group tonight for my midterm tomorrow in the fundamentals of Financial Accounting (yes the class is as AWESOME!!!! as it sounds!!!...... sarcasm if you cannot tell) Anyway, I'll talk to you all later.

-Danny

P.S here are some pictures I liked and I couldn't decide which one to put on my blog so I put them all on. The stories behind each are at This Week in Pictures on msn.com.