Time Comforts

12:34
11:11
10:10
2:22
1:23
3:45
Apparently there are some times of the day that I find really comforting.  Times when all the numbers are the same or when they are in some sort of sequential order just seem better to me.  When I happen to look at a clock and it reads these times I get slightly giddy and all right in the world.
Now if it's a normal time like 1:20 or 12:54 or some other random time that doesn't fit the previously mentioned criteria there's no big.  I can look at the clock and be just fine.  I'm not a freak.
However, if it's 12:33 or 11:10 or 3:44 somethings off.  When the time is just a minute away from one of the comfort times I feel the need to sit and wait until the time changes to a more comforting time.
Please don't think I'm weird.

Photo: Jus' Checkin'

I completely get this cartoon.  Some days keeping up with all the accounts is exhausting.  However, I still contend that it beats a 100 phone calls and writing out a letter by hand (an excruciatingly painful activity for me).  So I'll keep "jus' checkin'".

(thanks)

Photo: My Nephew Keaton

This is my nephew Keaton.
How cute is this kid?
In my family we play a game called "Dibs".  The last to call "dibs" has to change the diaper, or give the bath, or wade out through the mud to get the kid.  It's a race with horrible repercussions for the loser.  (We're a real maternal breed.)
"Dibs".

FYI.

Video: What's My Motivation?

This is interesting.


Autonomy
Mastery
Purpose

I've been dwelling on those three factors all afternoon.

My Girl Friday (#1)

I've been thinking for some time that I should probably start putting pen to paper on some thoughts that I don't tend to share much.  But just the thought of actually scribbling something out is cramping my writing hand, so let's just type it up on this here blog.  A lot of times these thoughts just end up floating around in the primordial soup that is my mind and never solidify themselves.  (In fact I'm thinking that I need to establish several blogging thought lines and this might be a good first start.)
I'm going to call these "My Girl Friday" because I'll publish them only on Fridays and because His Girl Friday is a fun movie, which is free to watch at Hulu.
I usually don't share my 'single-and-looking' thinking because I don't want to be one of those obnoxious guys who seem to only think and talk and whine and complain and muse about their singleness.  I loathe the fact that I'll be that guy just on Fridays.  There have been a few of those people in my life and when they begin down this path I generally find an excuse to leave the room.  (And if you find an excuse to not read along with, I'm okay with that.)
Honestly though I necessarily don't mind being single, it affords me many things.  I can decide last minute to not fly to my brother's wedding, but drive cross country and catch a couple of baseball games along the way.  I go to movies when I want, and the movies I want.  I can work late without disappointing anyone.  And so many other scenarios; things that I think Paul would agree with when he wrote about it being better not to marry.
However, while I'm still rocking the single life at age 31, if you would have told me as a child, as a teenager, as a college student, in my twenties that I would be single at this age I would have thought that was nuts.  Maybe it's the wedding season, and the numerous friends getting married this year that is spurring some of this, but truth be told I really do want to be married someday.  I don't think I was meant for singleness.
Let me wrap this post up.
I don't know exactly how this will all look, but we'll figure it out.  Let me know if it get's annoying.

(tbc)

Story: In Construction

At my brother's wedding recently I was hanging out with some great high school friends of mine.  As it tends to happen stories of days gone by were told.  And we told a lot.  One that my good friend Ryan Charest and I laughed at was about a last minute decision to attend a concert.

[The following story is in no way an endorsement for poor decision making.  If you learn from this you're an idiot and I'm surprised you were able to learn from this.]

Ryan and I had just gotten off a 8 hour shift at the McDonald's we worked at, and because we were always hanging out, we started driving around trying to figure out what kind of trouble we could get into.  Because the crowd of ladies at the local ice cream place didn't seem to capture our attention we decided to attend a concert.
My youth pastor, Bob Cole, had this musician he really liked.  At least he played this Christian artist's music video once a year during a Wednesday night youth group meeting.  But for the life of me I can't remember the artist name.  Neither could Ryan.
The only problem was the concert started in half an hour and Ryan and I needed to swing by my place and find something other than our McDonald's uniform to wear.  Now that I think about it, we actually thought we could successfully hit on girls in our McDonald's gear.  Which only tells you just how cool we were.  Or weren't.
After a quick stop at my house and a quicker change of clothes, we contacted our friend (and youth pastor's son) Brian Cole, and convinced him to join us.  Then like Bo and Luke we skidded across the hood of my 4-cylinder Isuzu I-Mark and headed out.
However, despite our quick stop, our problem only had gotten bigger.  Or shorter.  I don't know.  The concert was in Spearfish, and we were in Rapid City, which according to Google Maps is 48.1 miles away, or 51 minutes.  And we only had 30 minutes to make it in time.  Plus we needed to stop off in Black Hawk (which was along the way) and pick up Brian.
But it wasn't like we were in a hurry.  We didn't really even care about the music, per se.  We were just bored and being late was better than doing nothing.  So as we travel in our nonchalant manner, we were listening to music and singing and laughing and telling stories and just being teenagers.
That is until I looked down and noticed my speedometer.  We were rolling down the road at 115 mph.  I said, "hey guys, we're look how fast we're going."   We marveled at this for about 10 seconds.  Then I noticed something else.  "Hey guys.  We're going 115 in construction."  Yep that's right.  I was driving 115 mph in construction.  I kept going for another minute, because I wanted to continue to look like I intended to be traveling that fast. But then I quickly slowed down to a more respectable speed of, like, 85 mph.
When we arrived at the concert location we learned that we were an hour early.  I swore to myself that I would never speed like that ever again.  That was until a few months later.  But I promise I've only driven that fast twice.
Again I can't remember who the musician was, but Ryan and I did remember that his guitarist name was George.  We could remember because we spent the evening singing between songs, "George. George. George of the jungle.  Friend to you and me.  Watch out for that tree!"  [Remember that? I put the youtube clip at the end to remind you, just in case.]
I don't attempt to explain our behavior, except to say that we were problem strung out on Mellow Yellow and candy cigarettes.
Later we traveled home at a reasonable speed.  As we passed other vehicles we would turn on the dome light in my Isuzu I-Mark and start pumping our arms like we were running past them.  Then while passing what seemed like the 15th vehicle I notice flashing red and blue lights in my rear view mirror.
I started to panic.  I speed up to pull in front of the car we were passing and began to slow down on the shoulder.  "I don't think I speeding.  Is pretending to run past other vehicles with the dome light on illegal?"  None of us knew.
But the state trooper didn't pull me over.  In fact he just sped past me at a ridiculous and unsafe speed.
Now I was scared to death, or at least scared to get a ticket.  I continued on at a slower than speed limit pace.  Then all the cars we had just passed began passing us.  Finally the last car passed us and as it did a middle aged woman flipped on her dome light, pretended to be running past us, stopped, then pointed and laughed at us.  She was awesome!
That's all the story we tell, but I'm sure we ended up crashing in one of our basements and watching Billy Madison.

#RoadTrip2010 - By The Numbers

7 Days
5 Days of Travel
2590+ miles
$12 total in tolls
9 States
11 stops for gas
1 choco taco
1 wedding
1 cigar
1 1am breakfast
1 trip up and down the Gateway Arch
2 gnomes
1 frisbee golf course w/ 9 holes
2 rounds of frisbee golf
2 frisbee discs found
2 MLB games
25 Runs scored
48 Hits
8 Homeruns
1 Error
1 Movie
1 "best movie theater ever"

Okay, to be honest, I didn't really count things as I went along.  And I can't really think of anything else I could accurately count.  So I'm going to end this list.

Road Trip 2010

Garner, North Carolina to Blair, Nebraska 

With several stops along the way.

Tomorrow I hitting the road and going to be brother's wedding in Nebraska.  I know, right?  Nebraska?
Here's the route: do you know of any good stops along the way.
I'll be twittering and twitpic-ing along the way.  Even photos of these tiny gnomes someone put in my car. (http://tweetphoto.com/23650357) Maybe you'll see them at a ball game?

Dennis Hopper & I

"There are moments that I`ve had some real brilliance, you know. But I think they are moments. And sometimes, in a career, moments are enough. I never felt I played the great part. I never felt that I directed the great movie. And I can`t say that it`s anybody`s fault but my own." - D.I.

I'd love to sit down with this guy and have a few Dr Peppers.  I mean seriously, he was in Speed!

"A Man's Eye"

It was a good run.  I saw that coming, but I don't think I saw it coming.  And if that makes any sense you must be a writer for Lost.

I'm still trying to figure out what the heck all that was, but the one tin I know is that it was awesome!

Great show.

Quote: Theodore Roosevelt

““It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.“”

- – President Theodore Roosevelt

Video: Project Natal

This is gonna be amazing!

Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids

This is brilliant and inspiring.  

Read 12 year old Adora's bio here.

"You must lead an ear today, because we will be the leaders of tomorrow."

"The world's problems shouldn't be the human family's heirlooms."

[Cheesy Title Involving a 'Gnome' Pun]

Last Wednesday I returned to my apartment and found these two gnomes sitting in my chair.  It freaked me out.  I actually lost some sleep that evening.
While I had been at my small group,, someone illegally entered into my property and terrorized my life.  May God have mercy on their souls and not go all wrathful like I had just been reading about in book of Jeremiah.
Adding to my confusion there was a notice from the apartment complex on my floor.  Had the apartment employees broken into my place?  Why wouldn't they just put the note in the door like normal?  And why heck did they put garden gnomes in my chair?
The next morning I took the gnomes to the main office and politely asked if they had placed the gnomes in my apartment.  They said no, but offered to change the locks on my door.
Office Lady: "Who has your spare key?"
Me: "Did you give me a spare key?"
OW: "Yes"
M: "Oh"
OW: "Check with them and let us know if you need us to change your locks."
At this time I began to suspect what they were suggesting as well.
I returned to my place and dialed up the person who I had given my spare key to: my senior pastor's wife Kris.  Just in case I were to die and not show up for several days it would be best if someone could to check in on me.
K: "Hey Trevor."
M: Without any hellos, "Did I give you a key to my apartment?"
K: "Um. I don't want to say anything and incriminate anyone."
M: "Thanks.  Who else was involved?
K: "Um. I don't want to say anything and incriminate anyone."
M: "Alright.  Bye."
K: "Bye."
She had given the key to her husband, breaking "the circle of trust"; all of that reminding me of a Seinfeld episode.  Suddenly a plan formulated in my mind, because you can't just let something like this happen without a response.  I called Kris back.
M: "Kris, have you told anyone that I know yet."
K: "No."
M: "Okay.  If you keep it that way, no retaliation will be directed towards you."
K: "Deal."
After a quick second visit to the apartment's office asking for a fake eviction notice I began to send out several tweets.

• The circle of trust in my life has been broken. Door locks are being changed. 10:12 AM May 13th via txt
• Arguing w/ my apt mgmt to change my locks.they are refusing saying they didn't enter my apt,but clearly i found their paperwk on my floor 10:36 AM May 13th via txt
• RT @jonmcclarnon: @tsharrison circle of trust....hahaha#meettheparents // not funny...apt people are entering my apt w/o my knowing... 10:37 AM May 13th via txt
• RT @travishinton: @tsharrison Wow. I'd be willing to call that a breach of ur contract, just in case u want to leave. Sorry dude. // agreed 10:44 AM May 13th via txt
• Well...after a heated argument...we agreed that i can move out at the end of the month, no penalty fees...going to lunch to release steam...11:06 AM May 13th via txt
• After a bad angry morning a Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap w/ pineapple from Red Robin is gonna hit the spot..11:43 AM May 13th via txt

And so I headed to lunch at Red Robin.  Joining me was two friends and my senior pastor (@jonmcclarnon). Jon showed up last, so I prepped my friends, by letting them know the story and preparing them for me to act indignant.
Jon arrived.  And I quickly offered up my best Brando:
Me: "Dude, this morning sucked."
Jon: "Trevor it was me."
M: "What?"
J: "I put the gnomes there."
M: "What?"
J: "I'm really sorry.  It was me."
M: "Are you serious?"
J: "I'm really sorry"
M: "Are you serious Jon?  I just got done yelling at those apartment women."
J: "I'm sorry.  I got your tweets, but I was in [with the doctor] and couldn't reply."
M: "I said some really bad words."
J: "I texted Kris 'stop him' but I guess she didn't get it in time."
At one point one of our lunch companions started in as well:
Lunch Companion: "Trevor, you're going to have to apologize."
J: "I'm sorry."
M: "I have to be out of the apartment by the end of the month."
J: "I'm really sorry."
LC: "I guess you're spending your afternoon helping him find a new place."
M: "I almost called the cops on those people."
LC: "Maybe Trevor can stay at your house."
J: Burying his head in his hands, "Ugh. I'm really sorry."
It was at this point I just felt bad.  So I went ahead and scraped the month long scheme.  Forgot about the eviction notice being written.  Gave up my search for boxes to pack up my apartment.  Erased from my to-do list "find a realtor who'll play along".
M: "Me too, because I've been messing with you the whole time."
At first Jon didn't believe me, but it became quickly obvious.
Now I just need to figure out what the heck to do with these gnomes.

Song Stuck In My Head: Georgia Lee

Justin McRoberts coving Tom Waitts song Georgia Lee.
From JM's new covers album Through Songs I Was First Undone.

Georgia Lee from Justin McRoberts on Vimeo.

Video: Oddest News Story Ever

Sorry it's a little long, but I couldn't help but continue to watch.  Possible one of the best, yet oddest, pranks I've ever seen.

WSAW: Fake Yo-yo champ investigation and prank @ Yahoo! Video

Photos: Bookshelves

I have an obsession.  It's bookshelves.  I love libraries and bookstores, and maybe more for the bookshelves with books than the books themselves.  Which isn't to say that I don't like books, but only how much more I like bookshelves, especially bookshelves lined with books.  

And recently that primitive urging within me to create and hunt wholly mammoths as been growing, which I think will manifest itself into useful household furniture.  I can clearly see in my future circular saws and hammers (but not really hammers) and power drills and screws (not nails) and a level and right angles.  I'll have to buy planks of lumber and sandpaper and stainer to stain the wood and paint.  I'll also have to buy a white sleeveless t-shirt and get comfortable wearing my hat backwards.  

But because I have an unhealthy obsession to do nothing that has been done before. or rather something that has not been done before, I'm carrying some scrap pieces of paper around with me sketching out ideas.  In the mean time I'm enjoying pictures of bookshelves online.  

Oh and I'll also have to start carrying pencils around behind my ear only to forget where I put when I need it. 

Oh and I need some shelves in my office.

Read John Green

If you like to read: read John Green.  I've only read two of his books, Paper Towns and An Abundance of Katherines, and his first novel Looking for Alaska is next in my 'to read' pile.  He also recently released his latest work entitled Will Grayson, Will Grayson. 

Even though I've only read two of his books it's safe to say that I'm a fan.  I'm not sure exactly but I think I first heard of John Green's novels through the YPulse blog.  They rave about him fairly often.
You're going to find his books in the "young adult" section of your bookstore, which is kind of awkward to be browsing through after you've reached a two digit age that begins with a 3, but trust me its worth it.  Since you are going to find John Green's books in the "young adult" section I should probably let you know that the books (at least the two I've read) focus on people too young to drink and possibly old enough to vote.  if that were to deter you from reading, well, I don't know what to say.
I'm trying to decide what words best describe Green's novels.  Maybe: smart, clever, quirky, honest, funny, adventurous, and did I say "smart", because I meant really smart.
Blog post conclusion: I recommend the novels of John Green.

Photos: Man vs. Wild

Great ads created by advertising agency DraftFCB, Auckland, NewZealand.

Happy STAR WARS Day!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

LYRICS
[DARTH VADER/JAY-Z]
Yeah
No longer Anakin
Formerly a Skywalker
Son's next rebel hero
But I'll be Sith forever
I'm the newest Dark lord And since my training years
I can choke from anywhere
Yeah my force is everywhere Used to run with Obi Wan We were both best buds foreva
But after three movies Now I've got a blood vendetta Grew up on Tatooine
No vegetation Catch me rolling through the cosmos in a moon-like station to Leia's home nation Death Star wrecks it Now princess knows, Vader ain't one to mess with
Flying through the trenches
Blasting rebel noobies
What happened to the fat one
Think he died of heart disease All that's left is this guy
Chasing him in my TIE I won't deny That his force is pretty damn high
Damn i just got wiped out
Falcon shot the back of me
Spinning into outerspace
But I'll be back definitely

[PRINCESS LEIA/ALICIA KEYS]
In Star Wars Empire is out to find Leia Death star plans in R2 Shoot the exhaust port Kenobi may now be see-through But the force is within Luke
Let's hear it for new hope, new hope, new hope 
[Vader: You're welcome Obi Wan... I made you a ghost!]

[DARTH VADER/JAY-Z]
Catch me rockin boots and a cape like superman
Hell, I made wearing black more famous than that Jay-Z can
You should know I'd find you, hiding out at Echo
Now I got a Blizzard Force eliminate you quick yo
Welcome to the planet Hoth AT-ATs hit the spot Walking tanks are too legit
But they fall down a lot Check the front, check the back, cant find the Falcon yet
We need them all alive, so no disintegrations Boba Fett 8 million asteroids, where'd your little ship go?
Get me to Cloud City, I got Lando on my payroll
Me I gotta double check if carbonite's ok If freezin's safe for Han
Doing Luke the same way
New deal Lando
Ain't no pardon
Kid blew up my boys
Rest in peace Moff Tarkin
Turns out we are family
Embrace your dark fate
Dad and son together, yo No way the emperor's safe, cause...

[PRINCESS LEIA/ALICIA KEYS] In Star Wars
Now Han Solo's a coffee table
There's nothing Luke can do [Vader: Should've joined me, bro!]
He's on Dagobah
With some dyslexic Jedi dude
Right hand still got sliced through Looks like they struck back, struck back, struck back

[DARTH VADER/JAY-Z]
Lightsabers grinding
Palpatine's smiling
Cause he knew it would come to this The light side is blind with casualties
Who do evil casually, then gradually become worse
Don't fight your destiny
Wasn't a great dad, true
Absent all the while
No happy times behind us, and plus, now I'm killin' you
Keep fencing mister, 'cause now I sense a sister
You don't go bad, maybe I'll enlist her
Now Emperor wants you, only wants me rubbed out You controlled your anger, stayed light side devout Watch out kid, he's got lightning bolts to immolate Uh-uh, hell no, daddy powers activate
End this prune with a badass murder suicide
Bald headed, mask off, heart melted kid you were right Burn all my gear so those Ewoks can't wear it again
Do it, I'll be watching you, a ghost, name of Anakin

[PRINCESS LEIA/ALICIA KEYS] In Star Wars
Destroy new Death Star's generator
Ewoks to the rescue
Blast through to the core
This Regime's gonna be brand new
Galactic Empire's through
The Jedi have returned, returned, returned