So...about that title...

So UGA has let out once again for Thanksgiving Break, meaning:

1. Time once spent nose-deep in books will now be spent nose-deep in taters, turkey, and of course life-giving gravy.

2. The semester is winding down and while bodies will have to return to college to take exams, minds will remain at home with family, comfy fires, and free food.

3. I officially have more free time than I know what to do with resulting in a bouncing, baby blog-post! Eye so esited!

So...about that title...yeah. I realize that this blog is less than cohesive: the random pictures (sorry JB), the completely unrelated posts (C-walk? What the jive was I thinking), and that title that really has nothing to do with anything. 

"'A Joyful Noise?!' The only noise this guy probably makes rhymes with 'wack'"

(Here's a hint)

I'll admit, I really had no idea where I was going with it. The whole blog has only really been a compilation of random thoughts that I get from staying up late or sitting too long on the toilet. While some posts may have been relevant or funny, they haven't really stuck with any kind of theme. Today though, as I finally wrapped-up my night by eating some spongebob gummies, I decided to commit.

I have danced around with my ideas for too long. You could probably label me as an "idea flirt." There are literally thousands of ideas residing in my mind-community and each idea is maccin on me. Hard. Like bringing consistent "A" game kind of stuff. It's hard for me to stick with one for long because this idea just bought me a drink whereas this one wants to skydive from the moon (Won't work, idiot). Committing to any one idea is just as hard as choosing whether you want the frozen butterbeer or the liquid one (Why did they even come up with 2 options for that?!).

(omg....why doesn't all beer taste like this)

Anyway, I've decided to stick with the "Joyful Noise" theme and actually make relevant posts concerning thoughts and objects of joy and freedom. One of the biggest things Christ allows us in our lives is joy. Without Him we surely would have 0 reasons to be happy. By acknowledging the joy in my life I hope to bring glory and honor to Him most deserving of joy, who by grace has allowed me to partake in His most awesome peace and happiness.

I won't make you read any more on this post (I don't have anything ready anyway). I just wanted to let err'body know my plans so that in the future nobody is suddenly thrown off by the appearance of unity and cohesion in this blog. I may throw random posts in for kicks, but that's just because I like ya.

Anyway, it's 3 a.m. So without any more dilly dallying or prolonging or adieu, bon soir, buenos noches, and good night! Sweet dreams, pleasant thoughts, merry Monday, have a good one, you too, absolutely, seeya later, adios, arevaderci, hasta luego, ciao, hasta manana.

"Magically Delicious, Morally Nutritious": Why is Harry Potter So Dang Inspirational?

I will admit that when the movie's came out I was disappointed. Absolutely no one looked like I had pictured them in my mind. Harry's hair didn't look perpetually gelled up, Hermione's name was pronounced "hər-my-ə-nee" instead of "hər-mee-own" , and Alan Rickman did not use nearly enough grease nor have a big enough nose to play Severus Snape. The movies were mega short in comparison to reading the book (I was a fairly slow reader, not out of disability but because I read like it was being acted out) and included a quarter of the detail. In fact I would go as far to say that if you haven't read the books I'm not allowing you to be a fan in the same way that you can't seriously like Lucky Charms without having actually tasted the cereal. The movies make sweet looking cereal boxes, but the books contain all of the sugar-blasted-tastiness of everything J.K. had to offer.

Just as Lucky Charms lures kids in with crack--I mean, "sugar"--Harry Potter contains some naturally addictive substance that gets people all hyper and giddy. Being a true fan as I am, after viewing the final theatrical installment of the series and trying desperately to prolong the experience, I decided to ponder this thought at length. There are obvious reasons why people find this story enchanting. There's not a person alive who has looked at a broom and not thought "If only this thing could fly." The lure of myth and magic has been around for centuries. The same themes have kept from as far back as Egyptian times with it's Anubises and magic spells and all manner of animal-human hybrids. It's all the more addicting because of the sheer amount of detail Rowling was able to cram into the books and still have them make sense. The Wizarding World is a new and vastly different plain for human's to survey and we have taken to it like a gold rush.


Looks attract, morals retain. We may have been dragged into this series by how awesome it must be to have magic powers or ride a hippogriff, but I believe that the retention factor of the books was based off of a deeper, more emotional connection. Beneath the uber-geeky magic exterior of Hogwart's is the universal story of purpose. An otherwise unremarkable boy living under a staircase was chosen for the greatest purpose known to wizarding kind. There's a reason this jives so well with 99% of Earth's population. We all share that same thirst for purpose and ultimately fulfillment and success. We all agree that power corrupts and that those most deserving of power and decision are actively trying to avoid it. We all agree that love is a force greater than hate and thusly that good will always triumph over evil in the end. Human kind wants an adventure with all of the moral trappings, and the Harry Potter series delivers this adventure 7 remarkable times culminating into 1 brilliant story line.

The movie ended and it was too soon. I will admit that even coming up on the 21st birthday that I'm not quite ready to let it all go. I have grown up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione year by year and have gone through all of the same changes and experiences, only my experiences didn't involve a guy with a wonky eye or an eagle-horse thingy. I feel as though some of my friends just moved and forgot to give me their address. It's easy to want to shove my head into a book or a movie in order to cope with real world troubles and dissatisfaction, but if there's anything I've learned from the series it's that as much as purpose is a calling it is something you have to fight for. This is everyone's adventure. One day you have to pick yourself up out of dreamland and fight for your own dreams. Only struggle produces heroes. So it is with considerable trouble that I bid the beloved series, "peace-out."


At least until I find my Chamber of Secrets copy. Then I'm reading through them again.

Restored

If I had to rate this weekend as a young, well-known, Canadian-born pop star, I'd just have to rate it Justin Bieber.

(He's a good kid, I just found this really funny)

You know those things you do that you do for this reason, but then at the end you found out that that reason was dumb but then you found a new reason to do it? Whether or not you actually do that, it's what my weekend ended up emulating. 

About 2-3 months ago I signed up for an event called Restoration through the Wesley Foundation here at UGA (RIP UGA VIII, I hardly knew ya). The event aims to restore (get it?!) dance to its roots as a form of worship for God, rather than what many people use an excuse to practice baby-making in public places.I went to the show last year and loved it, so of course I signed up this year.

I signed up for the event with the express intentions of meeting some people and learning dance moves to use the next time I'm in a dance circle. Both of those things DID happen. Trust me, I would own you in dancing (at least in a 2-minute-song dance competition) and I met some of Athen's most ballinest, friendliest, dancinest people. My intentions were met, but for some reason I didn't feel quite like I had accomplished much. Nothing went wrong. I didn't bust it on stage, I didn't forget any cues, and I didn't break up with my girlfriend (you NEED one to do that! HAHAHA... D': ). I just felt...well, tired.

There came a point after our first performance when we were asked to spread out around the theatre to pray for the up-coming second performance. I kind of, maybe, slightly, perhaps rolled my eyes at this because I was butt-tired from only getting 5 hours of sleep and because prayer through the Wesley Foundation usually requires you to clear your schedule for an hour (totes NOT a bad thing, I'm just saying they are very thorough prayers). Nevertheless, I humored the leaders and found a spot to pray in. And by "found a spot to pray in" I mean that I stayed in the same spot and just lay down.

Whilst I layeth on the groundeth of the theatre-eth, I found it very super uncomfortable, so I sat up and began to creep on my unsuspecting pray-pals peppered throughout the ginormous room. Some of them were sitting in seats, some were dancing, some were even walking around blessing curtains and people. To anyone who had never heard of prayer before I'm sure these would've have been wildly disturbing activities. However, as I gazed about at my peers, it dawned on me why so many of them were still so hyped up both physically and spiritually whereas I was struggling to keep my eyes open. It was because they had signed up for God, whereas I had only signed up for the chance to send out some friend requests and dress like a hipster on stage.

It wasn't the length of the dance that had tired me out, it was my motivation giving way. I had come to perform for the wrong reasons and it showed in my dumb tiredness. The reason almost everyone else was able to keep going was because they had invested in an eternal energy source. I had only performed once and my dance batteries were already dead. (Dance- 1, Fake hipster-0.)

I'd like to make it known that after this realization, I was still tired. However for the next performance I made sure I was going out for the right reasons. THE reason. I wanted it known that all of the footwork and the C-walkin that I did up there was for Him, that the moves and the joy I presented out on the stage would be Him through me. God answered my prayers with what I feel like was a stellar performance from everyone (btdubs, I'm proud of the Move group! HOW YA DURN?!) I even had the energy to run up 4 stories of stairs to watch the rest of the performances, which by the way were come of the sweetest things I've ever seen.

My point for this post is to make it known that this life is way too short to live in a groggy haze. Unfortunately that's kinda how you live life when you have the wrong or no motivation. So I suggest what better motivation than the eternal?

Just like dancing in a three minute song as part of a 2 hour show, so is your life to eternity (but to an even greater degree). This does not leave us much time to act. Your motivation for being will influence your thoughts and actions very strongly. In everything that you do, remember what you are doing it for. Ask yourself constantly what your motivation is. Find joy in the fact that you are God's unique creation, and there is nothing anyone can do to snatch you away from Him. Dance your heart out.

In the eternal scheme of things your life is nothing but a drop in the ocean, so every last second should be devoted to and motivated by the one who invented eternity. We have roughly 80 years to make some noise, so make sure that it is LOUD and make sure that it is JOYFUL!

In memory of this memory, I have retitled my blog "A Joyful Noise," in order to remind myself what this life should be. I pray God grants me His words to convey that same joy to you.

" Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

   Worship the LORD with gladness; 

   come before him with joyful songs. 

   Know that the LORD is God. 

   It is he who made us, and we are his; 

   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

   Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

   and his courts with praise; 

   give thanks to him and praise his name. 

  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever

   his faithfulness continues through all generations."

- Psalm 100

You: Where u ben bOb? Me: On holiday ya NuRD!

That's right, that's right! I'm back. I hope that you all have had splendid holidays and are now ready to hit the grind with full force!

PSYCH. I know no one wants to do that. You would rather learn every knot in the boyscout handbook. Or mow your neighbor's garden. Or C-walk.

C-walk you say? Don't mind if I do!

I submit that instead of going back to work or reading some stupid book or taking care of your children, you should take some crucial time out of your life to learn to C-walk. C-walking is quickly becoming a vital part of every day life. Whether you need to impress that significant someone at her Barmitzfah or you're just lookin' to for a way to get around without lifting your whole foot, C-walking is that ever pivotal step you must take.

For this blog, I've viewed and compiled several videos to help you gain a comprehensive view of C-walking. There's a couple different variations and moves, but nothing you can't handle. After all, if you're reading this blog, the C-walk is now mandatory to view my page. If you can't C-walk and you read this blog....man oh man.....I hope you feel SEVERELY guilty about it.

So here go everybody! Lace up your boogie shoes and put on a backwards trucker cap, cause this jive's about to get KRUNK!

First, we have an overall tutorial. This man is ridiculous and C-walkin' is his game. It's a little long at about 8 minutes, 30 seconds, but if you have the time I suggest watchin this one for a good overall tutorial of different moves. Not to mention his music is bumpin' and his feet move like an angel's. And if you don't think angels C-walk then I dare you to tell me how else Micheal could possibly have become head Archangel.

Now, if you want to learn a specific move, say the heel toe, or the forward V, then you can check these vids down here. This guy is equally as good at C-walking, he just splits his vids into smaller, more concentrated segments. If you need that little extra help on a move or just want to learn a specific one, then this guy is your man.

First up, we the V. This is probably the most basic C-walk move. As you get better at the V you'll find it an easy point to transition into other moves.

Next, we have the Forward V. This is the same step, just augmented to move you forward instead of side-to-side.

Next, there's the Heel Toe. This one looks sweet and I think might be one of the few moves I have down. It's fairly simple, and you should get the hang of it in no time!

Now of course we're gonna bring in the Inverted Heel Toe. everything you loved about the Heel Toe....BACKWARDS!

Here we have the Shuffle. It's really easy, but whenever I do it I think it looks stupider than I feel. this guy looks sick while he does it though. So if you can't get it, just remember that this guy probably couldn't do it at some point either. Unless of course he is Micheal the Archangel.

Aight, I shoulda put this one earlier, but whateva. This is the V Stepback. You basically just do the V, then as you reach the end of your V, you just step one foot back instead of leave it in the V shape. You'll look cooler than the Fonz with this one!

This isn't the same guy, but he's still fresher than organic produce. This move is called the X Hop. I honestly haven't attempted this one yet, but it looks rad. You're going to want some good shoes for this C-walking business by the way. It's rough and your heels and toes (surprised?!) and if you do it bare foot you get some mad rug burn/tile burn (learned the hard way).

This move is called the Gangster Hop. I haven't tried this one either, but it doesn't look bad. It kinda just looks like an updated running man. So give it your all and dive in young padowan!

There you have it! That definitely does not cover all of the moves that are included in C-walking, but it's a great start. Once you get these down you should practice transitioning back and forth between them. Once you get that down you should go look up more moves! Soon, you'll be steppin' with the coolest cats in the U.S. I hope I piqued your interest enough to at least watch one last video! From what I can tell, pimpmywalk.com has subscribers send vids in and then they create compilation vids. So here is one that really captures the holiday spirit. Enjoy it and don't forget to WALK IT OUT! Shnooter!