The Flat that bit Back

Usually when Ryan and I drive back to Taylor from Minnesota, we have a fun, uneventful drive in which we listen to music, eat junk food, and drive comfortably from the inside of Ryan’s car..

Tonight was an exception.

About four hours into the trip, we took a stop in Tomah, Wisconsin, a small, wayside city in the middle of nowhere. After filling up the car, we grabbed a bite to eat at Subway. We pulled out of the restaurant and resumed the trip by getting on I94. Nearly the moment we pulled onto the freeway, the car started making a sound that was not unlike a muffled banshee screaming at the top of the lungs, thumping it’s head against the wall repeatedly. Quite frightened by this ridiculous racket, Ryan pulled the wobbling car off to the side of the interstate so we could inspect the source of this noise.

One thing that’s not quite as frightening as it looks is this: semi trucks on the free way. When watching from a distance, they lumber down the freeway in a calm, relaxed sort of manner. When standing four feet from the freeway, the massive trucks are quite intimidating. More on this later.

When a lull in the traffic came, Ryan and I stepped out onto the freeway and inspected the car . At first, we couldn’t find the source, but then it became obvious. Between the original “popping” of the tire and the time it took us to pull off the road, this poor, rubber doughnut was shredded.

Pondering our predicament, we realized there were a few “of courses” to be addressed. Of course, Wisconsin, being very close to Minnesota, was quite chilly (negative 4 degrees, to be exact(negative 8 with windchill)). Of course neither Ryan nor I had ANY experience changing a tire. Of course we were right of the freeway, playing chicken with semis. Of course we had no winter clothes. Of course.

Re-convening inside the car, we grabbed our phones and called our respective fathers for advice in changing tires. After chatting with Mr. Gates for a few minutes about the overall process, we decided to incrementally change the tire by calling.. fixing.. calling.. fixing.. until the tire was changed. Once again hauling our under-dressed butts out of the car, we realized the ferocity of the aforementioned trucks. Crouching four feet from the rood with nothing but a travel-size socket-wrench to defend yourself with, you start to feel pretty pathetic when staring down the grill of a 65 mile an hour 18 wheeler with flames painted up the hood. Nevertheless we loosened the bolts on the tire (climbed inside the car and called for the next step), jacked the car up (climbed inside the car and called for the next step), and attempted to remove the ruined tire.

Yes. I said attempted for a reason.

We couldn’t get that tire to save our lives. We shoved, banged, kicked, pounded, and punched to no avail. Just as we realized that it wasn’t coming off, a man that worked at a local shop named Steve pulled in behind us to see if we needed help. Informing him that we couldn’t get the tire off the car, he came up, pulled a couple times, sighed, turned to us, and said in a wonderfully Wisconsonian accent, “Well she’s not coming off..” Being a car guy, he informed us that we would end up needing a tow truck; he gave us a few numbers to try, including his, should we needed more help.

Reaching once more for our phones, we started calling every tow truck company within a reasonable distance. The first four companies we called were either closed or unable to come to our assistance. Until, finally, the last company we called was able to send someone to us.

After about twenty minutes of waiting, a large, flatbed tow truck pulled up, and situated itself in front of the car. As soon as the truck was in position, a short, white-haired man stepped out, and immediately went to work. No “Hello.” No “How’s it going?” No nothing. He just started picking up the car. The first thing he asked us was “Key’s in the car?” when he went to move the car a little bit closer to the truck. With little to do, he sent us into the cab of his tow truck to wait for him to finish. Awkwardly, we sat there, pondering aloud how “weird” this whole experience was.

The man raised the car up into the air, and balanced it properly on the back of the truck. He hopped into his tow-truck, popped it in gear, and we rumbled off down the highway. Ten minutes of a roaring engine and frightfully awkward conversation and reprimand later, we arrived at our destination: his shop.

We disembarked the vehicle, and the man asked us how we’d be paying. We asked if we could pay by credit card, but he responded, informing us that would not be possible. Cash was our only option. He then proceeded to tell us about our extremely large bill, and gave us his car keys and directions to the nearest ATM. Dazed into a stupor about how ridiculous this whole situation was, we clambered into this man’s freaky, smokey, DVD filled van and drove down the street to the nearest gas station. About this time, we realized how scary this situation really was. This man picked us up on the side of the road, never asked us who we were, plopped us in a van, told us to pick up a large amount of cash money, and kept all of our worldly possessions behind with him. On top of all that, he was extremely creep.

When we got back, he was finished, we dolled out a massive amount of money, hopped into our car, backed out of the garage, waited for the door to close, and desperately searched through our belongings and made sure that nothing was missing. Thankfully, nothing was.

Apart from the creepiness of the whole situation, it was a good experience.

Ryan and I learned how to:

- change a tire

- survive in the icy cold

- call a tow truck

- pick up massive amounts of cash in the middle of nowhere

- and search all our stuff in a few minutes flat

If you only take one thing from this: please don’t get a flat in Tomah, Wisconson.

Life Together

Spending time on campus at Taylor University, whether as a student or prospective, as faculty or staff, you cannot make it a week without hearing some kind of reference to the Life Together Covenant. For the most part, these allusions to the dreaded "LTC" are in good taste, but with a negative connotation, directed at the clause that states "The University expects its members to use discretion and discernment in their choices of entertainment and recreation (some examples include media, Internet usage, and games). Social dancing is not permitted on or away from campus." While prohibition of dance is a frustrating thing, I have found that I spend way to much time focusing on the minor restrictions of the LTC rather than enjoying what the Life Together Covenatnt is all about: building community.

The opening line of the Life Together Convenant is as follows: "Taylor University is a community of Christians intentionally joined together for academic progress, personal development and spiritual growth." The LTC is put in place to instill in students a desire to have life together in the fullest. And believe me when I say that I see students living this out on campus. One of my favorite examples is chapel. "Corporate worship, prayer, fellowship and instruction are essential for our community. Therefore, students, faculty and administrators are expected to attend chapel." Chapel at Taylor University is not required, but simply expected. There is no kind of check-in or attendance taken at chapel, yet the majority of campus attends on a regular basis. I firmly believe that this is because of the community at Taylor. Nearly every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday someone asks me, "Are you going to chapel?" "Did you enjoy the message this morning?" "What did you think about this or that about chapel?" (or something there within) If I had skipped chapel for some reason, I would immediately be encouraged to come next time or playfully chastised that I had skipped. It's the community that's brought students to chapel on a regular basis; community brings together this body of believers to worship God together.

Another example of how well-built the community at Taylor because of the LTC is through its restrictions on profanity. "Any kind of demeaning gesture, symbol, communication, threat or act of violence directed toward another person will not be tolerated." Although I don't live on the floor at Taylor, I've been told by a trusted friend, Ryan, that there is no profanity on Penthouse. No one swears. On one, rare occasion, someone swore while we were playing a game of soccer, and immediately two or three other guys were immediately on his case for having done so, and that was the end of it. I firmly believe that this is a result of the LCT.

In conclusion, while the LTC does prohibit a few, miniscule things, it does an amazing job of building up the peer to peer interaction of Taylor University such that we, as students, can enjoy such a fantastic, Biblically-based community. If you'd like to read further about the LTC, you can read the whole copy here. I encourage students to take another look at it in this new light, and see how different the Life Together Covenant looks.

Instead of focusing on the negative aspects about the Life Together Covenant, students should focus on what it has done for the community at Taylor.

A Christmas Letter

Since the beginning of the semester, I really haven't been feeling in a writing mood. I suppose I should try to convince myself that I should be writing every so often and adding new material, but I've found it so difficult to find things worth writing about. However, at the beginning of a new year, I can maybe try to start putting something different and new up here.

Much time has passed since my last update, and here's what you missed, or, were a part of for this Fall Semester of '09. I started my freshman year at Taylor University at Upland, Indiana. Up until now, Upland hasn't felt like a home to me; it was where I was put and I should make the best of it. When I started at Taylor, I was so wonderfully welcomed by the students and faculty that I'm now in love with the city. The community at Taylor is amazing. Though I don't live on campus, I've been loved by the Men of Penthouse, and literally made to be part of the floor. This invitation was the best thing for me while I was wandering between two homes.

At first, I wasn't sure what I was going to study; deciding my future isn't nearly as simple as I would of thought. Now I think I know what I want to do: Computer Science and Systems. For most of my life, I've found difficulty finding true passions and interests for which to pursue. I don't find myself becoming attached on any level deeper than passing interest, making it very difficult to choose from the vast array of options given to me. Since I can't make that decision on my own, I have been praying and meditating on it, and still haven't the slightest idea of what to do. With little time to make a decision, I decided to go with, for now, something that I have interest in: computer science. I pray that this is something I can come to find a passion in, and will come to love. I've chosen it for now because it is a marketable, profitable career that I will thrive in and enjoy, but I want it to become a passion and an outreach opportunity that will change my life forever. Taylor University, I hope, will instill in me that mentality with it's huge focus on Missions and Computing. As students, me and a team to be determined, will, in later years, develop software for missions organizations as a part of our curriculum. You can read more about Taylor's Missions and Computing out reach at their website.

In addition to pursuing academics, I've also been spending quite a bit of time working. Ever since working this summer, I really enjoy work. Work is an immediate gratification for being productive -- A feeling I adore. As a result of this feeling, I took two jobs at Taylor: IT Client Services and the Writing Center. In IT, I'm essentially working for Taylor's Geek Squad. I work with two or three other Techs during my shifts, where we, for the most part, answer phones and help Faculty and Students through their technical issues. If we are unable to solve the problem first contact, we record the infortmation into our computer system, and probabaly schedule them for a time to look at the problem 1 on 1. I will ocassionally be let out of the office to go and work with clients, but because I'm such a new tech, this usually doesn't happen. As I mentioned earlier, I also work in the writing center. Towards the end of last year, I was approached by my expository writing professor to work for her in the Writing Center. I told her that I would probably be to busy this semester, but would be open to trying to work it into my schedule. She told me that, as a writing consultant in the writing center, I would be helping teach students a little more about themselves as writers, and do my best to improve their grades. I'm so glad that it worked out. It's an absolute pleasure to work with students on their writing. I've met so many students and learned so many things, both about myself and other students. It's just been awesome

This is just a quick update on my life since my last update. If you have any questions, or want more explanation on anything, please feel free to send me a message, and I'd love to talk to you more about it. It's been awesome seeing all of you here in Minneosta again, I love you all so much! :-)

Till next time,

Paul

..

I'm really having trouble coming up with new content.. But let me share this moment of my day today.

Bright and early, on my way to work this morning, I was riding with my Aunt Paula, who also works at the Minnehaha Academy. (MA) In the middle of the road, there was a duck, litterally standing there, not moving at all. When we drove a little closer, we noticed that it's beak was tucked in behind the feathers on its back, and was sleeping. Right there. In the middle of the road.

Thought it was kinda weird.

I'm trying to come up with some spiritual warning against falling asleep in the middle of the road like this duck, but I'll let you draw your own conclusions about that.

Card Key Gymnastics

As an employee at Minnehaha Academy, part of my job is to sit at a desk and watch a monitor that shows security cam footage of the front door. When people come, I have been instructed to click two buttons, ask then what they are at the school for, and then let them in based on how they reply. Then, if they seem to check out, I click another button to unlock the door and let them in.

However, this is not the only means for people to enter the building. Full time employees at Minnehaha are given card keys that broadcast a very short distance signal to the receiver on the side of the building, requiring the carriers to bring the key within inches of the wall. Often times, these workers will be carrying a purse, bag, or other miscellaneous objects, making it difficult for them to get at their key card. As a result, they will not bother getting it out, and will try to activate it without removing it from, say, their front pants pocket. Then, they will lift their leg up a little and swing their leg towards the wall to touch it to the receiver. Sitting here, watching the monitor, I've seen people: hip check the wall, turn around and poke their butts against the key card detector. Also, people have jammed purses, wallets, and bags against the receiver, and even hold it in their teeth bending over to waist-height to open the door. Because of this, I, almost sadistically, wait to see how they would open the door with their card key.

I'll prolly keep a running commentary of all the ways that people have "carded in."

Comments and Updates

Two things:

I had a sad experience the other day. Seth P. told me that he read an update on the blog he thought was really funny. Shortly thereafter, I asked him if he had left a comment. He replied negative. It was super depressing, because I rely on comments and feedback in order for (1), knowing when people have read the entry, and (2), improving my writing for your enjoyment. So, you should leave a comment, even if it's just, "nice." or something like that. o.0

Also, I've been thinking about setting up a contact list in my email, and adding "subscriptions" so that you can know when I've made an update. If you want to "subscribe," lemme know, and I will add you to the list, and send you updates when I make a new post. This way, you don't have to check back every time, you can just jump straight to the post. :)

Thanks a bunch,
Paul

Stylin'

A guy walks into a store and starts searching for a new shirt to wear. Confronted with many decisions on what color, size, and shape the shirt he wants will be, he chooses a particular article. Taking his clothing to a dressing room, he tries it on. Admiring it for a second, he murmurs to himself, “This shirt just isn't my style.”

I've come to believe that an attitude and phrasing of a personal style is false: without a preconceived view of someone's “style” there cannot be an article of clothing out of style for an individual.

We are especially swayed by our own opinion of what our style is. For instance, a v neck t-shirt is slightly different from a crew cut. Since I've only ever worn crew neck, I tend to believe that v neck isn't my style. If I were to put it on, I know that would be out of the ordinary to wear such a thing. Also, if people I knew were around me saw it, they would also think it wasn't my style.

Here's the thing: without a preconceived notion of what my style is, bystanders who've never seen me before would not suspect anything, and decide that v neck was my style. Thus, if I wore a crew neck around them after a while of wearing nothing but v necks, they'd see me as though I was breaking my unwritten “code.”

I've attempted a few social experiments of my own, going to movie theaters or dinners dressed in ways that I normally wouldn't even consider wearing to a party with my closest friend, and every time, I've received the same reaction: none. I wasn't out of my style in their eyes.

Therefore, why are we so afraid of changing it up a little bit here and there? Why don't we make it a style to not have one?