Nil Nisi Cruce

Grrrr....

2009-06-19T06:11:06Z

So, I have a great graphics/digital audio/video workstation. Well, had. The main hard drive, a Western Digital Raptor 150GB (10,000 rpm, great drive) decided to quit on me after about a year and a half life. Every effort to repair the drive has failed; fortunately, I have the most important information from the drive all backed up on the secondary hard drive.

Problem is, I'm now out a hard drive and out of money. Going to be several weeks probably before I can purchase one. In the meantime, I'm posting this via Ubuntu's live CD (runs off the CD so it doesn't even touch the hard drives). Yay Ubuntu!

The thing that irks me is that the company I purchased this workstation from is so far unreachable. I've left a number of tech support messages and they have yet to call me back. Grr.

The other great thing about this is that I have about 4-5 hours of work getting everything reinstalled and working correctly when I do get the new hard drive. Yay.

Six years ago today...

2009-06-01T04:06:02Z

...I married the love of my life. I am a blessed, blessed man.

Brief update

2008-08-01T07:32:37Z

Well, I think I'm going to start posting here again. Don't get too excited, though, I don't know how often. I'm not much of a blogger lately.

I've been trying to spread myself too thin with my two blogs and other assorted websites I've been trying to keep up, so I'm simplifying things. "They Were Good Nails," formerly my blog at TheyWereGoodNails.com, will be the title of the second book in a series of two illustrated poetry books I'm working on (the first is called "The River Beautiful," watch RiverBeautiful.com for details).

My personal blog will be moved to JasonHackwith.com (coming soon), but I'll also post here. Eventually, I'll set this up with my RSS feed so you can subscribe to it just like I was still posting here. Of course, I'll always be checking my friends page.

More later. I'm battling a migraine tonight so sleep has been robbed. I think maybe I'll try again.

"Martian Soil Fantastic For Growing Weed Says Nasa"

2008-07-23T19:03:50Z

... was the title of a bit of spam I got today. :^D [snicker]

Has anybody else been getting a lot of spam lately with scurrilous or fantastical news headlines in the subject?

This is just full of all kinds of win.

2008-07-14T02:19:41Z

Introducing "It's Lovely! I'll Take It!" — A collection of poorly chosen photos from real estate listings. With love.

Here's my favorite entry. Rar.

NEW CD: "Brand New Day" is now available!!!

2008-06-13T23:49:24Z

I'm really excited to announce that my band, Wanigan, has just released its debut album!

"Brand New Day" is now available for purchase at Wanigan.net.

You can listen at the website, or on our MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/waniganmusic

That's me playing the fiddle on all of the tracks, and singing on some of them. It's been such a great time playing with these guys... and we're already working on the next album!

The Beginning.

2008-02-02T00:36:33Z

I am so blessed.

More later.

A Duet With A Train

2007-10-17T05:27:02Z

Yes, I'm posting here again! Don't get too excited, though... you know how these things go. I'll pop in and out from time to time. My relationship with LiveJournal is sporadic at best.

For the past year or two, I've been playing with an eclectic bluegrass band called Wanigan. We've been playing steady gigs around the area and had one recently over in Harrington, WA (benefiting the local food bank). I got to have a duet with a train on Orange Blossom Special. That's me on the fiddle:

For those of you who don't know, I grew up in a musical family with roots in bluegrass, folk, and old-time music. I enjoy playing with my family and with the old-time fiddlers around the area but I never thought I'd see myself in a bluegrass band. It's been a blast, though... and God's certainly blessing it. We should have our first CD out within the next several months or so.

TheyWereGoodNails.com is now live

2006-11-05T04:10:57Z

My dear friends,
I'm posting tonight to let all of you know that I have moved all of my blogging activities to my own server. They Were Good Nails is now live at http://www.theyweregoodnails.com/ and I would love to see you there. If you register, you will be able to read much of my journal which will not be given public access.

If you would like to syndicate They Were Good Nails so that it appears on your friends' page here on LiveJournal, my main RSS feed is available at:

http://www.theyweregoodnails.com/rss/mainfeed.rss

LiveJournal has been such a great medium for me, and I deeply appreciate all of you. I'll still be around! I will not be posting to this LiveJournal any more, but I will be reading my friends' posts and posting comments regularly.

Blessings,
Jason

Bork! Bork! Bork!

2006-09-10T22:12:53Z

Just sharin' the love. 14 minutes of Swedish Chef goodness.

Meh. Cable's not that bad.

2006-08-24T14:35:56Z

If this is real...

2006-08-19T17:42:22Z

...This could be really something.

I'm quite skeptical, but if it is real, imagine the possibilities.

Mr. 4.0

2006-05-27T00:17:54Z

My older brother, Brian, graduated from Northwest University this month with a Master of Arts in Business Administration.

Brian looks more like Dad every day.

Did I mention that he was the only 4.0 student receiving a Masters? That's my bro.

After Prayers, Lie Cold

2006-04-30T21:20:10Z

by C.S. Lewis

Arise, my body, my small body, we have striven
Enough, and He is merciful; we are forgiven.
Arise small body, puppet-like and pale, and go,
White as the bed-clothes into bed, and cold as snow,
Undress with small, cold fingers and put out the light,
And be alone, hush'd mortal, in the sacred night,
—A meadow whipt flat with the rain, a cup
Emptied and clean, a garment washed and folded up,
Faded in colour, thinned almost to raggedness
By dirt and by the washing of that dirtiness.
Be not too quickly warm again. Lie cold; consent
To weariness' and pardon's watery element.
Drink up the bitter water, breathe the chilly death;
Soon enough comes the riot of our blood and breath.

The Existential Flame War LIVES! IT LIVES AGAIN!!!!

2006-04-29T03:46:26Z

For those of us who remember... for those of us who will never forget, I present to you:

The Existential Flame War Part Dieu: When Blogs Attack

(and for those of you who haven't a clue what I'm talking about, here you go. You're welcome.)

I'm still alive

2006-04-09T17:52:21Z

Just a brief note that I'm doing well, aside from some stress (nothing unusual there). My apologies for the long posting drought. I'll try to post a more thorough update tonight or tomorrow.

LJ Interests Meme

2006-03-14T15:45:37Z

Stolen from phatfatgirl

LJ Interests meme results

burlap to cashmere:
Burlap to Cashmere (see burlaptocashmere.com) is one of my all-time favorite bands. Truly innovative, soulful, and nigh near indescribable. The best I can do: Greco-Latino Bluesy Guitar Rock.
christianity:
Who I am. The word Christian literally means, "little Christ." That's the whole scope of who I strive to be.
faith:
Faith is at once the most difficult and the easiest state of spirit to capture. It's like leaning out from your rickety ladder to grab an apple just outside your reach, falling, and finding that apple to be the only solid thing that holds you up. You don't pick the apple, the apple picks you.
guitar:
I've been playing the guitar since I was eight years old. I like it.
jesus christ:
The center of who I want to be. My reason for reason.
lord of the rings:
I've loved Tolkien and his world since I first found them, I don't know how many years ago.
organ:
Sitting in my living room is an older Hammond with a really nice sound. Not quite a B3 but it does have a Leslie. I like it.
prayer:
Prayer is so incredibly important. How can you know God if you don't talk to Him, and listen when He talks to you? I don't pray as well as I want to, but then again that's something I will be learning for the rest of my life.
singer/songwriters:
I have a great deal of respect for people who write and sing their own music. I think it takes a much higher degree of musicianship to truly sing your own tune then to mimic those of others. I hold the least amount of respect for singers who try to become someone else.
viola:
I love the soulful, dark sound of the viola. I desperately want one.

Enter your LJ user name, and 10 interests will be selected from your interest list.

Once in a while...

2006-02-26T19:30:07Z

...the heroes are the ones who most deserve it.

Autistic Teen's Hoop Dreams Come True

Do you need to laugh?

2006-02-22T15:35:38Z

I mean, the kind of laugh that makes your side hurt, in a good way?

Then click here: Laughing Babies

Just sharin' the love.

What's going on

2006-01-29T19:54:52Z

I've avoided posting about this until now, but I think I should because our family needs the prayers.

My wife's uncle passed away yesterday following a long battle with MS. Candi's gone into Grangeville to be with her family, and we decided I should stay here because she doesn't know if she's going to come back this weekend or stay the week.

It's one of those things where your heart isn't quite sure if it is relieved he isn't suffering anymore or sad that he is gone, or both. David was a good man, and he and his wife raised great sons despite great health difficulties.

This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.

2006-01-29T19:31:32Z

You Can't Kill A Toyota Truck (And boy, did they try!)

(Link goes to a video on i-am-bored.com)

The Affair is Over.

2006-01-17T03:50:56Z

Not loving it. Not anymore, anyway.

Steve over at The Sneeze posted a very humorous article some time ago about McDonalds' new motto, "I'm lovin it." I ran across his post awhile back and found it funny, but in light of my recent heart attack I've decided to join Steve in publically declaring that I'm not lovin' it, not anymore.

One of the things I've cut out of my diet is fast food. It's a no-brainer, really. I've never found fast food to be all that great to begin with. Give me a choice between a Whopper and a lean-beef, bistro-style hamburger; I'll choose the bistro burger every time. I have, however, found fast food way too cheap and convenient. That's really the main reason I've ever wanted to get it. Sure, they taste okay, but when you've been making it a habit to eat fresh things, you understand what your sacrificing when you eat processed food high in preservatives.

I think one of the neatest things I'm rediscovering as I've been eating healthier foods is that I'm finding that food tasts more real, more alive, and that I feel more alive after I eat. I knew that before, of course, but I succumbed to the popular idea of convenience over quality. No more.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a successful fast food joint that really made healthy food? Low fat food that was also low sodium, but full of flavor? There are things to be found at fast food joints that are better for you, such as salads, potatoes, etc. but they quickly end up being just as fattening as a burger if you load them up with all the toppings, dressings, etc. You're certainly better off at places like Subway or even Quiznos, but even there you can find sandwiches that have almost as much salt & fat as a Whopper with cheese.

I know there are places like I'm describing, but unfortunately they haven't found their way to Lewiston, Idaho yet. I used to visit some of them occasionally back in college over in Eugene, OR. There were places where you could get remarkably great food that was low in fat and salt. I'm talking chilis, peppers, onions, garlic, everything that makes food a real love affair. All that natural flavor I've been taking advantage of to make my meals exciting yet still low sodium and low fat. There were restaurants I used to go to that had really, really good broiled honey-encrusted salmon for under seven bucks. Subs with fresh ingredients piled high with yummy sauces that didn't use up your entire sodium allowance for the day. And chicken braised in wine and aromatic vegetables, served over roasted garlic brown rice.

Around here, to be healthy, you have to make it. And that really isn't that bad anyway. I've always loved to cook, it's figuring out what I'm going to make that is tough, especially when the only time I've allowed myself to make that decision is when I'm driving home from work.

The hardest part of all of this hasn't been eating the food that's good for me. I've been really enjoying that. The hardest part is planning meals well in advance so it becomes easy and convenient. That's where I have a long ways to go.

Do any of you have any suggestions for making meal planning easier?

Thank you.

2005-12-30T00:31:52Z

First and formost, a heartfelt thank you to everyone for your prayers and good thoughts.

For those who may not have yet heard, I suffered a small heart attack. I was having left arm, chest, and neck pain and tightness on Saturday night, but it came and went in severity, so I talked myself out of going to the doctor. Tuesday night, I went to Express Care at Valley Medical Center, where they discovered that my blood pressure was through the roof and sent me to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, who sent me on via ambulance to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. The cardiologist inserted a catheter into an artery and filled my bloodstream with a dye visible in X-Ray so they could see any blockages in my heart. He did find two, one severe enough to take action, the other much less so. Using the catheter, he inflated a balloon (angioplasty) and installed a stainless steel stent in the artery to clear the blockage. The operation was successful, and they kept me in the hospital for the better part of the week.

I am home, they decided to discharge me today since I am doing so well. I'm feeling better than I have in some time, which just goes to show how long this has been a problem. Right now the only thing that is really bothering me is my leg, where they inserted the catheter into my femoral artery. I'm supposed to take it easy, and I am. I have the best wife in the world who loves me so much. I've learned a huge lesson about listening to my body, and some definite lifestyle and dietary changes are in order. I see all of this as a positive, though very scary wake-up call.

I'm planning to post about my recovery, dietary changes and the like here... if you're interested in following my progress and helping keep me accountable, let me know and I'll add you to a special friends list.

I'm very happy to be alive, and very blessed to have such incredible family and friends. Thank you again.

Blessings,
Jason (Aerlinn)

[Please feel free to echo this post wherever you would like.]

Heeheehehe hack cough wheeeeeze heheheh

2005-12-26T11:29:48Z

So it's 3:25 in the morning, and my sleep schedule is all messed up due to me being a sickie (as my wife Candi puts it). For the past hour, I've been sitting here in the dark laughing myself into coughing fits.

The reason? http://www.songstowearpantsto.com/. Oh. My. This guy definitely has talent, and a wicked sense of humor that appeals to me as a songwriter.

Mmmmm, TheraFlu.

2005-12-25T01:17:17Z

Yes, indeedy, I'm a sickie once again. Ear infection (both ears) and a really bad sinus infection. Which is difficult to take on Christmas Eve.

We were going to go to Grangeville tonight for Christmas Eve, then drive up to Spokane to spend Christmas morning at my sister's house. My mother, however, has been in the hospital since Thursday with a severely low sodium count caused by a drug interaction. She's doing better and her sodium level is rising, but I'm down for the count. Chronic earaches, headaches, extreme lassitude, general malaise, aches and pains, and severe congestion.

Candi's uncle has MS and a depleted immune system so I can't afford to take the risk of going to Grangeville, sick as I am. Candi & I decided that she should go by herself so she can be with her family, and then she'll come back tomorrow morning to celebrate Christmas with me. We decided against going north to my sister's place because of my illness... I don't think I'm in a very good condition to drive.

This is the first Christmas Eve I've spent alone. It's different, and I miss my family, but in a way it's kind of nice. I have a lot of time to reflect on things. Christmas music is playing softly, all the lights in the house are off except for the Christmas trees and lights in the living room, and I'm sitting here wrapped in a fleece blanket with a warm mug of TheraFlu, counting my blessings. I'm thinking about a very different night some two thousand years ago, when my Savior was born. It was spring, when the shepherds were in the fields. His manger was probably lodged in a cave where animals were kept. Angels sang and shepherds adored, and Mary pondered everything in her heart.

I'm doing some heavy pondering of my own, sitting here tapping away at my laptop--given to me; on the loveseat--also given to me, wrapped in a blanket that was--surprise, a gift. Everything is a gift, and my prayer this Christmas Eve is that I learn to recognize the gift in everything.

And I'm not alone this Christmas.