Captain Rob's Place

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

2006-04-16T11:31:00.000-11:00

It's been weeks since we last saw our captain...marooned on this island which we believe to be the uncharted island of Isla di Muerta...the crew has lost hope...Captain Rob Sparrow was at the helm of the ship valiantly steering through an ungodly typhoon...just as it seemed he had guided us through the worst of it a gigantic wave rose up and smashed him off of the upper decks and into the fierce belly of the Spanish Maine. Shortly after the storm subsided we began sending out teams to scan in small rafts from debris from the ship to try and find our noble leader. It was to no avail...and what was worse as I the ship's first mate rounded up the crew it was discovered that we'd sprung a leak and Noah's Dove would soon be joining Davey Jones locker...so we pointed ourselves southwest according to our nautical charts it would take us to what has been our home these past several weeks...the dreaded Isla di Muerta. Having killed most of the billygoats known to frequent this dreaded rock we with only a few barrels of rum left have drifted into a sea of despair...two of our mates already fought to the death over who was entitled to the last bits of dessert aboard the ship...imagine their surprise when they both watched each other die from fatal gunshots(all over a chocolate chip cookie...poor lads maybe if they'd known it wasn't really Otis Spunkmeyer cookies they were fightin fer rather cheap imitations)...so I have written this account that perhaps someday someone will find this message in a bottle and perhaps post it on some form of public journal for millions to read...as I sit here I wonder what happened to our Captain? will he return? perhaps he will return aboard some vast vessel he's commandeered right out from under some naive group of sailors...for some reason I don't think we've seen the last of our dear captain...I hope to God we haven't...three cheers and a yo ho ho and a bottle of rum to Captain Rob Sparrow and his quick return.
Respectively,
William James Potter
First Mate

I, Walk the Line

2005-11-24T13:30:00.000-11:00

Hey guys, I know I've been away for awhile so I figured I'd give y'all an update. I'm back in Texas now, don't know how long I've stopped using measurements or increments of time when telling people where I'm headed next. I am looking at trying to get a job in this area, currently working on a resume, I called Dr. Pepper's office out of Abilene, TX and was told to keep calling the lady said from talking to me that she thought I'd be good in sales so we'll see what opens up, hopefully more than just another can of Dr. Pepper, hopefully a whole lot of Dr. Pepper cans and bottles, etc...and I'm also going to be looking around to see about teaching jobs and emergency certification and what not. My hair is getting really long and y'all know that's always exciting. Oh but let's address the title of this blog right quick. EVERYONE! Go see Walk the Line the new movie about Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. I give it 5 stars out of possible 4. Loved it was spellbound by both portrayals from Witherspoon and Phoenix. Truly an inspiring story and the chemistry between the two was awesome. Anyway I should also say Harry Potter 4 was great and if you go watch it you'll see as I did the new Superman Returns trailer(I guess that depends on which theater you go to but) you can also find it online I'm sure. It was a sweet "a" trailer. Anyway, hope all is well for everyone. Take care guys. Captain Rob Sparrow

The Dawn of a New Life on the Horizon

2005-10-12T17:23:00.000-11:00

Well, I suspect some of you faithful readers( there are so many of you)have been wondering what the flip happened to our beloved Captain. I wrote my last post shortly before leaving for California. I was there about 6 weeks in the Moreno Valley area. I had changed to another electrical company, Tradesman. I was making really good money and and working 80 - 90 hours a week to earn it. I thank God for providing this job. However while there about 2 weeks in to the job one day I was walking around the job and I began to reflect on the scriptures and various praise songs and it was like the Spirit of God landed on me. I had access to peace again and I told the Lord, "I want to follow you again." It was like the scales fell from my eyes. And in addition God took away my desire to smoke cigarettes and as soon as I started walking with the Lord again I had people asking me to go get drunk go to clubs all sorts of things being thrown at me and all I could say was I don't believe that God would want me in those places, not that I was opposed to sitting down and having a drink but anyway...I also could not stop calling all my friends and sharing what God was doing in my life. I just wanted to share that with you guys. I felt like the Lord in the weeks that followed allowed me to share my faith and the joy and peace and love of the Lord with the guys I worked with. Another big thing that came out of all this was I decided to take a leave from the electrical life. I may go back but for now I am gonna look into something more stable where I'm not always having to tell everyone I care about and love welp see ya in 1 to 6 weeks or more or as soon as we get back. I ask that y'all would pray for direction for me and that I would seek God above all things. I have alot of things on my heart and still most definitely wrestle every day as do you all with the flesh....it seems being home has brought so much all at once back in to my life from fellowship to temptation....working 80 to 90 hours a week helps you stay away from the things of this world and from just about everything else for that matter. Anyway...one of the songs that I remember thinking of was Mercy Me singing, "Jesus you're everything I'll ever need....all of you no more me." Oh and on a random note for all you people have a special someone in your life guys play the song Woman by John Lennon for your girl...download it and burn it on a cd and go dance to it....it's awesome =D Anyway take care, and drink up(not to much =) me hearties yo ho! Captain Rob Sparrow

On the road again...

2005-08-03T13:12:00.000-11:00

Hey guys, I'm in Conway, AR visiting my friend Sarah. Just got back from Nashville TN. Had a blast. Work sent the crew I'm on up there for a little under two weeks and I got to see my cousin Pammie(who I haven't seen since I was a little kid) and meet her husband and their son Jamison. They were really cool to hang out with and we had a lot in common from movies, to acting, to enjoying the simple things of life. I also got to hear some good country singing and some bad singing as well. One of the guys I work with Clyde his brother freakin rocked the house down at this bar in downtown Nashville called Legends Corner. His band played for 4 hours and Me, Clyde, Michael and our boss Jeff all went out and had a good time listening to music and Jeff and Michael even got out and danced some. Then I also got to hear my Aunt Jan's niece April sing. She did a great job as well and there was the girl who sang right before her some 13 year old who brought the cafe where April sang down. This girl sounded like Sarah MachLachlan. I walked out and saw her with her family and go, "that was awesome!" she was shyly and sweetly like thanks her family was so proud, she'll probably be the next big thing. Thought it was funny that pretty much everyone me and my friends on my crew knew were country singers and darn good ones at that. Anyway I am in route to Bentonville looking forward to getting this next cut-in over with cause then we are going to be hopping from job to job for like 5 months. So no telling where we'll go. Oh and I also got to see Aaron and Joni in Kentucky during my Tennessee stay and am very excited for them as they are pregnant =D!! Aaron we're definitely going to have a rematch on the go-carts. We all need to meet up at this one pool hall in Nashville, reason being because they have this arcade game were you are in Star Wars Episode I's podraces. You sit in something that resembles a pod and the controls are just like in the movie. I'll beat anyone who's man enough to sit down and race =D. Seriously though guys I hope all is well for you all and look forward to seeing y'all whenever our paths intersect. And oh there is just one more thing....go see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory...it was grrrrreat! Take care, Captain Rob Sparrow

Take me away!!!!!

2005-07-02T19:07:00.000-11:00

Hey guys, I'm back with a new post, it's been awhile but yes the Captain is back. =D I'm listening to Lifehouse's song Take Me Away. What a great song. I am also in the process of downloading random songs to be put onto a burned cd. I get really into the whole process, from downloading the various songs, to listening to songs as they hit 100%, to picturing where each song will go on the cd(sometimes I just close my eyes and pick at random other times I'm very particular)anyway, even though it's 1:11am I'll probably go jump in the Jeep and drive around Atlanta blaring all my new songs. It's so fresh. I love it. I've gotten so far, Tupac-Dear Mama(awesome song) Lifehouse-Take Me Away, Rod Stewart-Forever Young(I get tears in my eyes) and even some Cowboy Troy-I played chicken with a train...Oh a bit of news I'm in Atlanta til July 8th. I've had so much time off it's crazy. But cool cause I've gotten to see my family and friends. Tonight we had a surprise bday party for Hannah's friend Josh and my parents bought these little black eye masks that come from The Incredibles movie. So I go hey guys I got an awesome idea, Dad Mom Hannah, Donna Trevor put your masks on, Amy Bergt was over as well and she took a picture of all six of us with our masks on. I tell you the truth at that moment we were the Incredibles(heck we still are) =D Then I was telling Dylan and Stanley about this at Pitt Grill and Dy lon goes Robert you guys are the Butlers not the Incredibles, and I go dude shut up the Butlers, well....that's our secret identities and he goes well I'm gonna tell everyone and started saying outloud, Robert's family is really the Incredibles, it was funny. Well I'll be back in Bentonville soon enough. We did a job in Denton, TX and had a blast cause I was near Micah and Daniel and I got to hear Billy Radcliffe play at open mic night and I went to a dance club with Daniel his friend Josh and my two friends Elise and Shawn who I hadn't seen in forever. It was a new experience for me cause I've never really been to a club club with a bunch of friends. We had fun cutting a rug. It wasn't as fun as dancing at Blake's wedding, that was my best fast dancing experience bar none. So we need to get a bunch of folks together and have a dance sometime soon. OK I'm done. Oh yeah I got some sweet new mud tires for my Jeep so everyone let's go for a ride sometime.Drink up me hearties yo ho, Captain Rob Sparrow

Round, round, get around, I get around, yeah get around woo woo I get around!

2005-04-28T12:08:00.000-11:00

(With song used for title playing in background =) Hey guys, I'm writing y'all from Bentonville, AR. As we speak I'm in the business center because I just had to get out of my room and find a computer and write. (Ok turn down the music, ok go ahead and turn it off) So you might ask, Robert what the h-e double hockey sticks are you doing in Arkansas? Well let me start by telling you guys that only a week ago I was in a totally different atmosphere. See I had just started a sweet "a" job at Ivan Smith Furniture sitting in aire acondicionado, thanks to my buddy Jason putting in a good word with his cousin Bargain Bubba as they call him in these parts, and I gotta say the people I was working with were great their seemed to perhaps be a promising future and maybe in the next 2 to 7 years a promotion to Manager. As I sat at my desk I thought of my cousin Doug climbing cell phone towers and making more than twice an hour more than me and getting to travel all over the U.S. seeing God's wonderful country. I also thought of the job my Uncle Jack had mentioned to me that he and my Aunt Sandy were trying to get Doug to take. It's a cush job. Basically you are an apprentice to an electrician for 4 years. You start out with good pay lots of hours and you get to travel around and it's very hands on. So as I'm sitting at my desk I get the urge to go smoke...I walk outside and call my Uncle and ask him again about the apprenticeship and if they have had any openings come up. He said to call Jeff on the 21st. I did and simply because of my Uncle's reference I got the job. I had no interview, I filled out the application once I got here. I felt bad leaving Ivan Smith after having only been there a week it was a fun week and everyone up there was real cool. But check out the work I'm doing now. Ok I am working on conveyor belts at the Wal-Mart distribution center. This place sends out stuff to like 116 Wal Marts....oh and by the way Bentonville is the home of Wal-Mart. So I go in and guess what I see, people with beards and long-hair, their is a smoking break room and a non smoking break room. Everyone on my crew smokes, Jeff's second in command Clyde is as big a Dr. Pepper junkie as me, TG remember you making the crack about your mom putting DP in your bottle or maybe it was hot sauce(I have used that same bottle joke with DP anyway) this guy literally is starting his little kid on Dr. Pepper he said he puts DP on his teething ring. Awesome. Anyway...yesterday I helped work on the cellanoids of the motors for conveyors and today we were connecting EMT pipes with couplings and connectors. I was sawing pipe and tomorrow we're gonna pull wire through these pipes I think. Anyway I'm gonna go for a drive around the town now, just wanted to pass y'all an update. Hope all is well for everyone...and if ya get bored come see me in B-Ville sometime. Drink up me hearties yo ho =D, Captain Rob Sparrow

I love April 1st =D

2005-04-01T18:49:00.000-11:00

Hey guys and girls! Well it's the end of yet another not so celebrated but never forgotten(at least to me) day heck I'll call it a holiday....April 1st aka April Fools day! Let's see where to begin? I got my friend Steven that I work with at La Quinta who not even 24 hours before I got him when I was telling him how many people I get each year had said, "you aren't gonna get me Robert." WRONG! =D Then I got this guy I used to work with in Tampa my friend Robert (aka Hollywood) Coulter. Told him I was at the Tampa Airport and that I'd just gotten a job on a whim in Tampa. He was like dude catch a cab and I'll pay for it....I was like sweet and pretended to be talking to a cabbie and then I said I'll see you in a few and called back 2 minutes later with a hearty APRIL FOOLS HAHAHAHA! I also got Kevin Durham, Blake Coleman, Tabitha Meyers, Elise Aaron, Shawn Woodruff, Sarah Prejean and possibly Richie Soares and Jason Edwards....however I didn't get Blake Edwards, he told his wife Karla that he was expecting a call from me...and he didn't buy a word of what I said...I told him that the 5 dollar bill Jason gave me for winning this bet we had was counterfeit and that I was at Hibernia being held for questioning in a room. =D Good stuff...anyway today was a good day. Also got to hang out with Micah Hazelwood. We had a lightsaber duel that lasted all of two minutes cause I ended up breaking his(mine actually) lightsaber with a powerful force move(okay it was five years old but that's beside the point) the point is as Micah said, your force powers are far beyond my own. Then tonight I took Hannah and her friend Tressa to go see The Ring 2 and it was about as good as the first one. Now I'm back home. Time to get ready for bed sometime soon. Take care you guys, Captain Rob Sparrow

Seeking Direction

2005-03-30T22:22:00.000-11:00

"Dear God, surround me as I speak, the bridges that I walk across are weak...and the frustrations fill the void that I can't soley bare....Dear God, don't let me fall apart, you've held me close to you, but I have turned away in search for answers I can't understand..." jars of clay lyric.

Well guys I wanted to open this journal entry with this quote cause it describes how I'm feeling at the moment. I feel lately that I've done more than just turn away for a few answers rather I've taken off running a marathon in the other direction. This is pretty much common knowledge to my close friends and I'm sure it's evident through my writings. I haven't been attending church, I drink on occasion and I smoke quite a bit. I think one thing that has been a constant in my life is a desire to know God. It may seem like that has faded away into some abyss at times but I know that there is something inherent in me( The Holy Spirit) that keeps speaking up in my heart. I also know that there is a darkness that I continually wrestle with that enjoys living in the flesh. I can totally (TOTALLY!) relate to Paul's writings in Romans 7 I need to put application to his resolution in Chapter 8 and I'm sure Okelley would say adopt the Calvinistic teachings in 9 and 10. So I title this blog Seeking Direction cause that's where I am. I'm seeking to be comfortable in my own skin. Seeking still to find a better paying job...oh yeah I'm not going to Lake Charles(I know everyone's thinking right about now...could you be any more fickle Robert?) But I decided I want to stay closer to home for the time being. So any direction I find I want to make sure it's in a good direction. I found out that this one job I was considering is probably a front for scamming people...it was a job that I found in a newspaper add boasting of getting to travel coast to coast and make money yada yada yada. My friend Gina, (modabella) check out her blog sometime she just started it and I'm sure it'll be very interesting, found out some shady things about the company so I'm gonna have to say the nay no my damie to that one. Right now I'm living at the La Quinta Inn in Marshall and have been putting out applications for a wide variety of jobs. Hope all is well for everyone. Take care yous guys, Captain Rob

A Change of Plans

2005-03-12T23:16:00.000-11:00

I begin this post straightforwardly by saying, for now, I'm not moving to Spokane. I awoke this past Friday and had having been home for a day and thinking some things through...like all the debt I have, and the fact that credit collectors have been calling my house and even my grandparents house, and flat out that I'm in need of a plan before moving off, and with all this on my mind I decided to call my cousin's husband Will who lives in Lake Charles, LA along with my other cousins and my Aunt Diane and Uncle Huey. Anyway...I'm going to call him back Monday afternoon and find out if he can get me a job. He's one of the head people at a place that works on Aircrafts and he had told my parents when the informed him I was moving to Spokane( I'd already considered the notion of Lake Charles and this job and talked to Will about a week or two beforehand)that some people had left and they were looking to hire on some more people. So I called him and he said he'd try and go ahead and get me on and to call him back Monday so I am praying this job works out. I'll live there in Lake Charles for a while and work my tale off and with that money I'll knock several credit cards and old cell phone bills out. Then I'll plan ahead as well as I can before moving to the North West. This was by no means an easy decision cause the Robert Butler way of doing things has usually been just pack up and go. I find however that thinking things through seem to be good as well. My parents were totally supportive of me going and I love them for how they allow me my space and love me without trying to dictate my life. My father said he was glad that I was deciding to wait a bit longer and I'll let y'all know on Monday if I get the job or not. I'm looking forward to it if I do cause I'll be around my cousins and their families most of them have kids or are about to have kids so it'll be alot of fun to hang out with them. This side of my family are just all around great people (not that the other side isn't great as well) but these are the cousins I grew up with along with Doug and Mona and they love to go water skiing and ride jet skis so the early summer months will be a blast. Anyway just thought I'd give that as an update to y'all. Its 4:32 am up here at La Quinta and my last day is the 17th. So if I don't get that job in Lake Charles I'll need to find something quick. Well I've gotta go start getting some of the breakfast stuff ready....til we meet again. Captain Rob Sparrow

Top 10 Favorite Movies

2005-03-08T12:40:00.000-11:00

10. Phenomenon
9. A River Runs Through It
8. Bottle Rocket
7. Troy
6. Braveheart
5. Old School
4. Good Will Hunting
3. Legends of the Fall
2. The Count of Monte Cristo
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

A few honorable mention: Dumb and Dumber, Tommy Boy, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Fight Club, Snatch, Secret Window, It's A Wonderful Life

The Call of the Wild

2005-03-04T08:00:00.000-11:00

Well guys, I know it's been a while since I last posted and the reason is because I've had alot of decision making going on in my life. See my roommates who have let me have the courtesy of their couch these past 4 months are getting ready to move to Dallas. So as soon as April rolls around but probably around the beginning of May...I've realized I need to find somewhere else to live. I'll be honest Marshall just isn't doing it. I have loved being around all my friends and my family again. Don't get me wrong it's great. However all my friends in Marshall that I do hang out with on a daily basis are graduating and moving off. I found out that there was an opening at the hotel I worked at in Tampa FL for 7am to 3pm shift and talked to my former asst. GM and he said he'd try to get me there at as close to 10 dollars an hour as possible. Then the next day I talked to him and my former GM Bob Seguin and we had us a sort of teleconference. There was haggling and what not but I ended up saying I'd be there in two weeks. Well after I got off the phone saying I'd take the job I didn't feel right...I went into La Quinta and put my two weeks notice in...my GM Mrs. Mary was sad she said and then I walked outside to smoke a cigarette and my friend Tabitha Meyers walks up out of nowhere. Tabitha has been a wonderful friend and spiritual encouragement to me and when I told her my plan to go to Tampa...she said awww that's too bad....you should stay here in Marshall...look how pretty it is and as I looked around(it really was a gorgeous day out) I said yea I know Tab you are right...well we talked some more and I got a bunch of guests walk in so we said goodbye...I kept thinking about this unnerving feeling in my stomach and heart and mind....I went in the back office and thought about being in Tampa again....something was wrong....I became very sad...tears rushed to my eyes...I thought I've made a mistake...I had already been emailing with Cory about possibly moving to Spokane WA. The call of the Northwest has been in my heart for many years now through movies I've seen, books I've read, and an unexplainable call in my heart for the mountains and forests and beauty of the Northwest. Well I can' t explain any other way than I just knew Tampa was wrong...I didn't have a place to stay...although I am sure I could have found one with some of the people I worked with I would have needed to give like over 300 dollars to said roomies right away...so (and I won't exclude Chi....he would have helped me more than any of them like he did last time I moved there heck he'd probably have looked into getting an apartment with me but he also gave me some good older brotherly advice on the phone when I told him I might move back there, he said Rob i would be very glad if you moved back here but were you happy when you left?....not really....he said make sure you do what will make you happy i don't want to see you miserable again....very true....) all that to say, I decided not to go to Tampa. I realized I have a place to stay with friends for about a month til I get on my feet through Cory and Marlene...I'm excited about seeing them again and what I love about Cory is how he has always challenged me to embrace God's grace...Cory just seems to get it....well I called my dad and told him my change of plans and that I was going to Spokane and he goes...well son your mom and I have prayed about it and your grandparents have done something good for us so we'd like to give you 400 dollars. I got tears in my eyes....this was no doubt an answer to my prayers. I had prayed earlier that night for God to give me direction and if he could some money =D and I'd already made plans for gas money and food for going up there but with that money which I plan to save as much as I can of...I can use for a depoist on an apartment or in case of an emergency. I also felt like it confirmed to me in a way as if God was saying...Robert you are following the desires of your heart, be free. If y'all could pray for me. I'm very excited about this change and very thankful for friends like Cory and Marlene, for my roommates that have let me stay here these past months...my parents and my entire family...for Aaron and Misty Laenger who are gonna let me stay with them a day or two in Denver CO on my way up to Spokane so I don't have to sleep in my Jeep or rent a motel room. So it seems to me as if everything is going well and if God wills it I will be leaving for Spokane around the 17th or 18th of March. I'm very excited about what is instore for me over the coming days, months, years. Well...I'm gonna go grab me some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...have a great day. Captain Rob Sparrow

Oh and there is one more thing...one detail I may need some help with...if anyone would like a cute cool little dog named Rigley let me know. He's the bomb. He's about 4 1/2 months old part beagle part hound dog and part lab and he's still growing into his paws real cute he's like the color of a golden retriever and kinda the face of a beagle...anyway...laters

Update

2005-02-24T17:00:00.000-11:00

Hey guys, I couldn't get blogger to add my pics I have on this computer nor could I figure out how to add people's blogs I like on to my blog...so I have created a xanga site. www.xanga.com/captainrobsparrow. However I will still be keeping this up as regularly as I ever have....Lord knows I don't want to disappoint Jason by not having witty bantering with Senior Suave OKelley. Hope all is well for everyone. Welp see y'all later. Capt. Rob

Interview with the Captain

2005-02-23T10:53:00.000-11:00

My blog buddy Christan(she's real cool check her blog out www.therealmiller.blogspot.com) I've only recently made her aquaintence however the questions she's chosen to ask me are kind of freaking me out and if you are a close friend of mine you'll understand that as you read the questions as well as the answers how coincedental or what have you, Christan asking me these questions are. Oh and no joke like I'd say over the course of maybe the last 2 days I've been thinking of getting a tattoo. Christan you must have espn or something. Enjoy the interview.

1.) Real Miller: Do you have any permanent (not marker) tatoos? If yes - what is it? If not - would you get one?

Captain Rob Sparrow: Not at present. However I have like the past couple of days been considering it. If I did get one, I would be the one to design it. I have thought about getting something to the effect of wild at heart or wild man tattooed in either chinese letters or sanscrit. I also looked up the sparrow tattoo online that Johnny Depp sports in Pirates of the Carribbean and I think a variation of that would be cool; having a sparrow with the sun setting in the horizon for the back ground. I like the idea of my blog name Captain Rob Sparrow not only for obvious reasons but because of the idea of His(God's) eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.

2.) RM: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be (be specific) and why?

CRS: Either Hollywood, California looking for work as an actor/screenwriter because I think I would thoroughly enjoy acting and writing for movies(I've got a million ideas in my head) that or The island of Monte Cristo I almost made it when I was living in Spain if you get a map out and find Elba off of the Italian Coast that is where I was. Oh and I've always wanted to spend some time in London, Scotland, and I think Taiwan would be nice so I could hang with Chi and his family.

3.) RM: A movie is being made about your life. What actor gets to play you?

CRS: Hmm...that's interesting = D I'd have to say it would come down to Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, or Johnny Depp. If I had to choose just one I think as time stands for the moment, Johnny Depp.

4) RM: When were you most happy? Why?

CRS: In general there are several occasions spent with close friends in Newton(riding 4wheelers and drinking cheap grapejuice in wine bottles all night long bringing in the new year and riding horses the next day) going to Cocoa Beach, Florida with Brandon and Chi and us gallabanting around til 3 or 4am at the hotel raiding the kid pool that had a pirate ship and making a camp fire on the lone beach and smoking cigars together and also being at my friends' weddings from Jason and Christy's to Blake and Karla's I just have so many wonderful memories and some of the most dear to me are times I spent as a child with my parents and sisters and my cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. Also just being around family and friends again after I got home from Spain that was nice.

5) RM: Do you prefer coffee or tea? What flavour? How do you doctor it up?

CRS: I prefer coffee hands down. I hate....I hate...tea. ughhh...gross. I like to have several packets of sugar and some creamer with my coffee and every now and then I drink my coffee black.

The Official rules of the Interview-Game
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
6. I will answer reasonable follow up questions if you leave a comment.

Bored into my mind

2005-02-19T15:39:00.000-11:00

Clever huh? Bored into my mind. Sounds like a good title let's see if it produces a good post. As I have stated I am bored. I am at work on the home stretch of a 3 to 11pm shift with about 2 hours left to go. The suck part is right before I went to bed this morning around 8am I had just left this place where strangers lodge frequently in the same building from working the late shift last night. So to pass the time I've taken these two rubber bands I've been wearing around my wrists and put interesting native american and chinese character like things all around them to amuse myself. I also took a black permanent marker and drew the number four in a cool way as to be a piece of body art that will wash away on my right hand near the space where my thumb and index finger meet at. I've also made small talk with the guests giving them directions to the same places....Applebee's,Bodacious, Wal-Mart.etc...my friend Richie that I work with has brought an added bonus to the workplace....her mom. She is a professional masseuse and the owners here have let her use on of the rooms at the hotel as sort of her personal studio and she'll be here certain hours to provide the guests with massages to help folks around here relax. And the best part is employees get 50% off. Yea! I don't have much else to say really. I may be going to church with Jeevan and Crystal tomorrow in Jefferson. I am sure if I do it will be an experience. As everything is. Well hope all is well for everyone. Capt. Rob Sparrow

Time

2005-02-10T14:31:00.000-11:00

Can you hear the ticking? Be quiet....if you listen really close....not even a whisper....do you hear that? It's the sound of time....tick tock tick tock...ticking away. Today is yesterday's tomorrow. We are all time travelers with the lovely condition that our journey is one way no going back and no speeding up. Yet nonetheless we are all traveling through time. We see evidences of this after coming home from a long journey and things have changed, whether it be the population sign, a new hotel, younger siblings driving, or simply the faces still familiar worn with age. Traveling is wonderful for it allows us to get in touch with a very unfamiliar world and yet it seems each time one comes back to what once was so calming and comfortable that's not always the case. If one stays gone long enough from their hometown even it can become a foreign land it seems. Perhaps that is why God has given us the incredible bonds of family. For although the faces change, one can usually come home to family and know they will be embraced changes and all. Time and what it brings about (death)has been described as a bell ringing tolling for us, a foe that is,as sure as taxes, pressing us second by second towards death, many people long to live forever yet for every person that has wished to be as one of the greeks gods of old, timeless and immortal, I'm reminded of Achilles words in Troy, that it is because we are mortal (doomed he termed it) that everything is more beautiful that way, cause each moment could be our last and I find that the thought of my own mortality is very much like being pinched violently awake from a dream to realize that one day I will breath my last breath...and it's such thoughts as these that can help the rebel learn to appreciate the things that are safe and at the same time help the man who fears losing what he really has no control over(his life) get out on the edge and take a leap, for life really is but a vapor and I'm longing for a time when I'll be at peace in this present age...focused on heavenly tidings so as to where I can't help but reflect Christ through the instrument God made in this mirror of my humanity, my very soul, the mirror that reflects what is in my heart. The inescapability of time can be viewed in good terms or in bad terms. It is the fact that it is relentlessly pressing us at a consistent pace ahead that is beneficial to me so I choose to see time for what it is to me, a friend ushering me one step closer each day to an abundant eternal life beyond my wildest dreams. Sincerely, Captain Rob Sparrow

At wit's end at the end of an eventful weekend =D

2005-02-07T16:34:00.000-11:00

Hello everyone, the following is an update on the past several days of my life.

-Found out from the guy who set up my job interview that it didn't go anywhere near like I expected...apparently the Regional D.O.S. sent an email saying that I was chewing gum, very unprofessional, and that she pretty much didn't like me at all. And honestly...I find this information insightful and not hurtful. Apparently from now on I will have to leave the gum at home or at least out in the Jeep and try and be as professional as possible....then after the job interviews are over then I can loosen up. I guess making yourself at home isn't the best thing to do in a job interview. Oh well.

-I turned 24 this past Friday and I had a good time going home and seeing old friends and family in Atlanta. My mom brought me breakfast from Mc Donald's including hot cakes and sausage with a cinnamon roll as well as a large Dr. Pepper. Then Dad and I ate Taco Re'al and had a good talk about life.

-My friend Elise and I went running through a random neighborhood and I am encouraged to start upping the distance I run so as to get my abs in better condition for March 1st when the unveiling comes about to see who the winner of the ab competition will be.

-After my friend Tab got off from work her, myself, Jeevan, and Crystal then proceeded to go up to IHOP for an awesome game of Phase 10 which as fate would have it I won(it's my bday for crying out loud). Then we went back to Tab's and watched Wimbledon which I found was a pretty dang good movie.

-I also heard from my cousin Doug who has a job now working on cell phone towers and he said he might can get me a job doing the same thing. So pray for me about that...what a rush climbing sometimes as high as 2000 ft in the air to repair electronic equipment. And it pays almost double an hour what I make now.

-Work as usual has been work and I'm excited about the idea of finding a job in a different field.

-Jason Edwards, if I go see that movie will you write a new friggin blog?! =D and Blake where the heck are you man? I like your blog about Craig as much as anybody but dude I want to know how you are! Craig I hope that book is a crackalacking along just fine and thanks again for coming to Marshall and chillin.

-Well I've said enough for now. Hope all is well for everyone. As soon as I get off from work it's to the mud fields for me. Drink up me hearties yo ho! Capt. Rob Sparrow

Forever Young

2005-01-28T11:52:00.000-11:00

I'm up at La Quinta right now and I just got done hearing the song by Rod Stewart, "Forever Young." It's a really good song that inspires thoughts of adventuresome living and true love that is wonderful and true. Today has been fairly interesting as I had a second interview for a Director of Sales position for the Wingate at Tyler. This time instead of driving to Tyler, I drove to Longview's Wingate to meet with the Tyler GM and the Regional D.O.S. I must say that I wish I'd have had a camera in on the interview just so I could show my friends. I walked out after it was all said and done with a smile on my face thinking if I don't get this job at least I had fun in the interview. I did my best to be professional but also let the two ladies who interviewed me know who Robert Butler is. I mentioned in a previous blog how I hate the question which simply put asks what is your greatest strength and greatest weakness. Well I did good in answering the strength question saying how I am a passionate person and I feel that I am able to make complete strangers as well as close friends feel comfortable around me. Then when I got to the weakness I thought(George Bush in the debates was asked to name three things he did wrong with Iraq or something of that nature) don't actually name a weakness persay but give them something interesting like,"well I guess I'm kind of a rebel, I'm growing my hair out long, I sometimes wear my Chuck Taylors(which are black) to work even though we are supposed to wear nice looking black dress shoes...and as I was saying this and a few other things I felt myself thinking ok yeah I really blotched that one but oh well. I was also in the most nice way I think she could have possibly done informed by the Regional Director of Sales that in the future it would probably be better not to chew gum in an interview but was at the same time told that it wouldn't count against me in this interview. The ladies then proceeded to ask me if I had any questions for them. I said, "as a matter of fact I do." I first asked a business question of, "where do you see the Wingate Inn in the next couple of years"...(she responded with some stuff about growing and new business, I don't know I really wasn't paying that close of attention) they then said well do you have any more questions and I said,"yes there is just one more, what's your favorite food?" The D.O.S. stated "Robert, I don't see how this pertains to the interview" so I followed with, "well I'll be glad to tell you how this pertains to the interview...see if I am hired we'll be coworkers and if we decide to go out to eat this will give me an idea of restaurants we can go to"....so they in turn told me pot roast and mexican food...I decided against saying the question asked for a specific food and told them I'd had pizza in Pisa, Italy and that it wasn't as good as I'd hoped. So that's the interview story...at least a small bit of it. It's now 7:25pm and a couple of hours have passed since I started this during which a guy from Howard Payne who'd said hi whenever he'd walked by came and introduced himself to me and we had a good talk about a couple of things. It's always good to meet someone who seems like a genuine person looking to find out what another person's life story is about. His name is John...cool guy. Well right now my old roomie Kuo Chia-Yu and I are having an interesting dialogue so I must say adieu. Hope all is well for everyone in the blogosphere. Drink up me hearties, Yo Ho! Captain Rob Sparrow

Recent happenings

2005-01-24T12:38:00.000-11:00

Well lately I feel as if I haven't had time to just stop and hang out with people. I've been checking on W2 forms that I'll be getting from Tampa as well as trying to crack down on some ugly debt I've been ignoring as well as applying for jobs. And even though I am sleeping on my friends' couch still after 3 months, I find that I enjoy being back in Marshall. I won't lie to you I keep getting the hankering to just pack up and move again and I very well may whenever the right opportunity comes. If I can find any comfort in my singleness it's that I can move pretty much wherever I want in the United States right now. I went and said hello to one of my old professors at ETBU, Dr. Whaley and traded some stories of traveling and I let her know that her class was interesting and helpful to me and for an english class that was impressive. I also was at the business office in Marshall Hall yesterday and as I walked outside I lit up a cigarette as I was going to meet up on foot with my friend Sarah. Well she was sitting on a bench waiting for me to finish my cigarette cause the smell bothers her and I try not to smoke around her or at least blow the smoke in the opposite direction of her. Well not 30 seconds into me talking to her I had a faculty member I'd never seen before ask me to put my cigarette out cause this is a smoke free campus and I said ok I'll finish this and be done. He seemed perturbed but walked on then not even a minute later two ladies walked up to me and they had their nametags on and one immediately walked up to me and said put that cigarette out this is a smoke free campus. And I nonchalantly said mam I'll put it out as soon as I'm done these cigarettes are expensive ones. She said no sir you need to put that out right now and I said once again well mam I'm almost done and then I informed her that I don't even go to this school and I looked around and noted that there weren't any signs(yes I know it's a nonsmoking campus and yes I was kind of being a smart ass but the way this lady talked to me made my blood boil) so she said sir in the most authoritative bossy way put your cigarette out and I said are you being for real and she said yes i am now put it out and I said well I'm not putting it out I'll just leave. Well the lady then proceeded to follow me towards my Jeep and take out some pen and a paper and I got in my Jeep and drove off. It made me mad. I just felt like what a rude lady. In her defense she probably did think I was an ETBU student hence her getting so high and mighty and mad that I didn't drop down and give her fifty and what not. My friend Sarah seemed embarrassed and when I called her she said she didn't have any sympathy for me and that I had a problem with authority...albeit but the lady could have been a bit more polite. =D Sarah also the next day said that a couple of hours later that night she had some lady be a jerk to her and say that her shirt was offensive(which it's not) and then Sarah said she could relate to how I felt. Anyway on a lighter note I am glad that I am starting to make progress towards paying one of my student loans off. My main thing now is to get my CIOS loan taken care of and to just start taking this debt out one ugly thing at a time. And a few random things, check out the show the Family Guy sometime it's hilarious! Also Smallville starts new episodes this Wednesday so check it out on the WB at 7pm or 8pm I 'm not sure but I'll be finding out cause I have requested to have Wednesdays off for awhile. So I can start watching pretty much the only show that I have time for without having to ask several people to tape it for me. Ok well I'm spent. Hope all is well for everyone out there. Captain Rob

It's been awhile

2005-01-12T14:18:00.000-11:00

Well hello, I don't know if anyone is even checking this thing anymore but I tell ya guys I've been real busy with alot of random stuff lately. Mostly work related stuff but I find myself encouraged spiritually lately. I started reading the Count of Monte Cristo again and I've also opened my bible again and read some of Paul's writings in Galatians. Not to mention I got a bunch of good cd's from BMG music and I also got the Third Season of Smallville and Troy and The Count of Monte Cristo on DVD for Christmas. Oh and my hair is growing longer and longer each day as I am trying to grow it down to my shoulders. Pray for me as I take on this task....my heart is in it 100% and I am learning patience through this period of waiting. Rigley is getting bigger everyday it seems. And I am still putting out my resume to different places about jobs in hotel management and sales jobs. Oh and I have also gotten into an interesting bet with some friends. Richard Crosby, Jeevan, and I have made a bet to see who can have the best abs of the three of us by March 1st. I have cut out soft drinks and fast food and am running almost everyday 2 to 3 miles. I'll show them I will win this competition and if not well at least I'll be in better shape =D. Well that's all for now just wanted to throw out some more happenings from my life. Y'all take care, Captain Rob Sparrow

Blake Edwards

2004-12-29T11:54:00.000-11:00

I've never been good at writing thank you notes to people. It's not so much that I'm not thankful or that I don't want the person to know how much I appreciate them by sending them a simple but wonderful thing such as a card saying thanks but rather I've always preferred to say thanks in person and to let them know to their face how much what they did for me means to me. Having this blog and having read what Blake so kindly wrote for me on his blog I am compelled to gladly write a kind of a thank you note to him.

For it is such a man as Blake Edwards that I would buy a plane ticket, that I couldn't (if I really thought it through)afford, so as to make sure I would be at the place where he would say I do to the woman he'd been searching and praying for and had found in Karla Lou Edwards. See in the grand scheme of things buying a plane ticket when I could have used that money for bills is very trivial to me when I consider how great a friend I have always had in Blake since I met him out on the elementary school grounds digging up holes. I remember one of Blake's birthday parties I think in fifth grade at Skate World and I don't know why I just remember having a blast skating around and goofing off and I also remember the first time I spent the night at Blake's house we were playing monopoly in Blake's room and it was pretty late in the evening and I hit free parking or something and I was so excited I hit the floor with my hand and Blake informed me that we had to be quiet because his parents could hear every single thing we did up there so we basically had to hover if we had to walk anywhere. =D There were also times we'd have a bunch of people out to Blake's pasture and we'd all campout and Blake would teach us how to make hot dogs for the umpteenth time. One campout at my Papaw's land we were out there and he dug a hole in the ground and developed some sort of oven mechanism that we used and we'd put the hot dogs in tin foil...it was actually quite brilliant and we let the hot dogs cook in there. Of course we had to also flee that night cause a freakin bunch of tornadoes had touched down so we all went over to the Blackwoods and spent the night there.

Something else I'd write would be that Blake values friendships with people and keeping in touch with them very highly so much so as to start up a Rabb 99 News to keep all the graduates from Atlanta High School in touch with one another. Blake is also the kind of guy that can juggle both literally and figuratively a million things at once. In high school he also was the President of the Key Club and continued as Jason did to make it a fun thing and he got his friends involved with things like that all the time. See Blake is the kind of guy that liked to put things together so that people would get away from their aol instant messengers and actual fellowship with one another.

Did I mention Blake is a go getter? See in high school he balanced lots of things from tennis, cross country, track, tennis lessons, running different clubs, to debate, to playing football,the guy was all over the place and he carried that attitude with him into college and during his brief stay there and I say brief cause as most people know he got his degree double major mind you in 3 years. 3 years! That's insane! I don't know of hardly anybody that can do that....oh well except Blake and he's not just anybody. He's a very level headed well thought out guy who also knows how to appreciate things outside of the academia that he has immersed himself in. Of course Blake has also made a huge difference in lots of peoples lives by being the kind of friend who will really listen to you and whenever you get done talking with him about your problems he's able to put things in a light that make you feel better and help you realize that you can get through the things you thought you couldn't. I told a couple of my friends just a few of things that Blake has told me that have encouraged me and they were like man that's awesome. The blog he wrote I mean come on?!!?! How encouraging is that! Someone who can write something about you and tell you things about yourself in a way that makes you feel like it was just for you. Blake once told me Robert if you were able to go see a movie about your life...not knowing it would be about your life you just heard some new movie (with a Matt Damon, Brad Pitt type =) portraying the lead role was coming out and you saw it...I think you'd really like the movie. And as he did in his blog he described the things I've been through in my life and I remember having tears in my eyes because that was like for me the most wonderful thing I could have been told. Funny old world isn't it. Perspective can do amazing things for you. Blake has given me sound counsel numerous times when I felt like my life wasn't making sense or like I was just flat out depressed or anxious. And I think one of the things I like the very best about Blake is how when I have shared with him the things I've struggled with and the mistakes I've made he has always accepted me and not judged me or made me feel like I was a bad person but rather helped me to always to take a step back and try and act rather than react because everyone in this world is going through similar life struggles.

Oh there is just one more thing...I remember at Blake's wedding giving a toast to him saying that I don't know why Blake thinks I'm so funny when in fact he is the one to me that is hilarious. From him making up words that make no sense to happening upon caretaking for pets with strange names like Smelly Gray to his songs from childhood he taught me about an old grey mule and remembering to say goodnight to a certain sally sam and jip and mittens =D to him just acting goofy and dancing around and shouting, to Blake just being Blake...it's times when I am looking back like this that I truly think wow I am a better person because of my friendship with Blake. That's what is so wonderful about friendship and I think Blake and I could both say that we've been blessed with far more close friends than the average person. For real, there are so many and I think that's something that he and I value both so much and why we are as close of friends as we are.

Blake also said something to the effect of my mind or the way I think being pure poetry and I appreciate that however I find that Blake has a magnificent way whether he sees it or not of articulating things very well with his words. Heck his website is correctly labeled fidepoeta always a poet...I think I translated that somewhat correctly. Anyhow I'm thankful that I got to be a part of your day Blake and I am so glad for you and Karla. I remember looking at Karla when she was saying her vows...and her going, "Blake I promise to love you for my whole life..." and the way she was looking at Blake I was like she's the one he found her this is awesome! It was like it just kind of became very real to me that one of my very best friends was there...there being he'd finally made it. See growing up we had so many discussions about meeting the woman God has for us, when are we gonna find that special woman and I know for Blake that was such a special moment and there are some things you just can't miss out on. So here's to you Blake! As Wyatt Earp said to Doc Holliday, "thanks for always being there." Love ya bro!!!! Figures =D Captain Rob

P.S. Blake, I think if they did a study on the effects that a person's life has on his friends' lives that they'd find an overwhelming number of people have been deeply touched by the life of a certain Blake Edwards. (See how I'm trying to think of something like you thought of for me with the movies to put into words how you are.)Anyway GOD bless bro.

Christmas Eve or not Christmas Eve that is the question

2004-12-24T15:33:00.000-11:00

Well, I'm standing at the ol' computer once again. Today is almost over and as I look at the hotel Christmas Tree lit up for all of Hwy 59 to see I feel like voicing as Elwood P. Dowd did in Harvey,"where has the evening went?" I stayed up late last night watching the hilarious show The Family Guy til like 5:30am...this was the end to a night after having a good chat with my friend Andrew Chain at the IHOP restaurant. The hostess was cute but of course after all those pretty smiles we came to find her boyfriend was up there visiting her. How sweet =D. I was telling Andrew that I don't think I have ever had a girlfriend during Christmas. He was in the same boat. For me Christmas is a great time I love seeing my family and friends(in fact I just confirmed that Pitt Grill will be open tonight all night so make way) but I also am reminded that this is another "single Rob" Christmas. But I guess the best way to look at it is this is probably one of the last Christmas's where Rob will be single so I better enjoy it. I'm bringing what is left of the Captain Morgan and Corona's at my house so that my friends and I can drink up me hearties yo ho. Anyway just felt like saying that as I stand here I'm left with the feelings that most people as they age along in life feel...like Christmas seems less magical each year and more like just another day. It is cool to stop and remember that around 2000 years ago Christ was being born around this time over on the other side of the earth making his entrance into history that would forever change the world as we know it. Perhaps my problem is I haven't made time to watch It's A Wonderful Life yet as Craig reminded me today on the phone. I am thankful for this season where people are encouraged to give gifts and remember our saviour's birth and even though I am tired of the Christmas songs I do enjoy them for a time. Happy Holidays guys and hope to see as many of you as possible over the Christmas break. Wishing you all the yule tide cheer you can handle, Captain Rob

Pieces of Me

2004-12-23T15:49:00.000-11:00

Like a puzzle with many pieces so am I, a puzzle, a mystery in progress.
Here are some pieces to the mystery that is me.

How many of you reading along with me can recall being asked this question in a job interview, "what can you offer us as a company?" or "why should we hire you," and my personal favorite, "tell us your something good about yourself i.e. sell yourself to us". Growing up in Southern Baptist upbringings I think that was probably one of the most uncomfortable things I could ever do was to say something good about me. I think because I considered that to be prideful or arrogant and pride is one of the seven deadly sins. A humble man so I thought never thought highly of himself therefore I usually when asked that, would pause...look down probably, and then would say something like,"well I like meeting new people" or "I'm easy to get along with." Looking back on that now I think is that all you could say, Rob?

Well many job interviews and journeys through life later I can honestly say I've discovered a better answer for the question. See I've had my share of ups and downs but through it all I've been through I'd have to say the number one thing that has always been important to me is my family and friends which at times seems one in the same. And in the same breath for those saying whoa he didn't say God first let me in the same breath say I believe in Almighty God with all my heart...I've had my times of doubt of questioning and I'm still wrestling alot...I don't put him first like I should and I think probably the reality is I do put God first in the sense that all my life pleasing Him knowing His will and simply put Knowing Him has been a guiding theme throughout the course of my life. I remember my pastor sharing with the congregation that he could see that God had had his hand on my life for sometime. All this to say that I haven't been going to church much since I graduated college and the last year and a half of college was a gradual decent into that. I've had several friends encourage me to get back in the groove and to find a church family. This is where I am at now trying to find a desire to consistently go somewhere and plant myself. However another bit of me is that I enjoy traveling and love the idea of moving all over the world. I'm also fickle many times. I feel like I could honestly move anywhere in the United States right now and do some really great stuff. I come into problems when I get caught up in that. So for now I am trying to find a good paying job in the Central/East Texas Area. However with me you really never know.

Well a few other things I'll share about myself is that I am currently trying to find a job in hotel management or as a director of sales at a hotel, I've also considered teaching if I can get emergency certified and I've also thought about giving modeling a shot =D but really don't see that bearing terribly too much fruit. I guess that's what is so great about this point in my life is that there is still so much unknown stuff in the immediate future it's exciting, frustrating, enlightening, depressing, wonderfully surprising and it's an adventure. I'm growing my hair out long and trying to start back to running and working out. I'm also trying to branch out and listen to lots of different forms of music from Ray Charles to Snow Patrol, to Usher, Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, Avril Lavigne, Third Day which is pretty much a constant, Shane Bernard, Eminem, Weezer, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Cold Play, Sarah McLachlan, Dido,Rob Zombie, Oldies, so if you know of any really good artists like say Modest Mouse that have been around awhile and are just now really getting some good exposure or some bands that noone really knows about that are good let me know. Well I've said alot and these are just a few pieces about me. And I don't have time to read over this so here ya go...Captain Rob

Pun,Two,Three,Four, Get your post on the blog...gonna gonna get up and get down

2004-12-23T12:42:00.000-11:00

Puns
There was a man who entered a local paper's pun contest. He sent in ten different puns, in the hope that at least one of the puns would win.
Unfortunately, no pun in ten did.
---
Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused his dentist's novocaine during root canal work?
He wanted to transcend dental medication.

Good stuff. Just wanted to share it with y'all! Later, Cap'n Rob

The Hardy Boys and The Mystery of the Strange Englishman

2004-12-22T15:53:00.000-11:00

It was another cold winter day, Carver Paddington the mysterious Englishman who lived across the street from the Hardy Boys was out digging through a pile of leaves in his back yard. He was so heavy into his labor that he didn't notice Frank and Joe stationed high above on the fifth floor of the old abandoned elementary school house only a quarter of a mile away. Fenton Hardy, the boys illustrious detective father had trained his sons well in the art of surveillance, and little did they know the great adventure that lay ahead of them. As Mr. Paddington scrawled through the massive pile of leaves he suddenly stopped picked up some sort of a wedging device and began to tap at an unknown object mired beneath the leaves on the grounds surface. Suddenly a loud noise rang out! The boys spun around as if to prepare for any danger that could roll their way only to find that it was the belltower of the school preparing to ring it's regular 5 beat rhythm that it always did at 5pm in the afternoon. Frank walked back to his station at the fifth floor window only to discover something amazing!....Carver Paddington was gone!

Ok guys....did y'all ever read the Hardy Boys books growing up? I did and I don't know what it was about them but I remember I couldn't get enough. I remember Clint Crowder describing how if we ever did a spoof movie of the book we'd have to have the lead characters get knocked unconscious about 100 times. I also remember whenever Okelley and Clint and Blackwood and Justin and Blake and numerous others helped make the hit sequel Atlanta the Return to Heck. In it towards the end Aaron and I are being tied up by Aaron Lofton and we are totally aloof to the fact that he's a bad guy as he is tying us up he reveals he's the guy that has betrayed us or something to that effect and as Lofton is finishing tying us up I say something to the effect of hey this is like a Hardy Boys movie...I'm Joe! Then the scene cut to Steven Duke revealing he was the mastermind behind the whole DIE SCUM mystery. This summary won't really help any of you except those who are familiar with Atlanta but I was just thinking of it as I was typing about the Hardy Boys. Anyhow this whole post came from the fact that it's cold and wintry weather and I remember how whenever I'd read those books it was like I was right along with the Hardy Boys solving the caper that lay ahead of them. I've always loved a good mystery. Well only 3 days til Christmas...can't wait to go home on Christmas Eve and see all my old chums...I talked to Daniel and Micah both today on the phone and they are both already in town. We are all talking about meeting up at Pitt Grill late in the evening and smoking cigars and eating double hashbrowns and waffles. Maybe something amazing will happen and we'll all get pulled into some great adventure! Who knows! Welp see y'all later, Cheerio! Captain Rob

The Dark Sides Light

2004-12-21T14:25:00.000-11:00

The title of this post comes from a Sarah McLachlan song called Building a Mystery it's a small phrase from this very interesting song. As I listen to music I kind of have like a music video that plays out in my mind and at some point in this mental movie I usually end up taking off and flying. Of course a typical day dream sequence goes something like me walking down a road and it's windy my hair is getting blown back as I walk towards something that seems to be calling me and I'll be taken back to past times in my life to good times remembered and bad times I wish sometimes I could forget forever. Another regular occurence is, I save someone whether it be a group of friends from a madman or a beautiful woman from some random dangerous situation to me just looking up at the sky looking around and just flying away. This may seem dumb at first; but I find that when I listen to music I am taken somewhere else...depending on the artist it can actually be quite amazing. But then I suppose that is what is so wonderful and mysterious about music...sounds can create the most amazing imagery in the midst of our minds and yes in our very soul. Perhaps this is also why I like such a wide variety of music and enjoy meeting people from many different walks of life. A broader part of that Sarah McLachlan quote goes, "You come out a night that's when the energy comes....and the dark sides light and the vampires roam, You strut your rasta wear and your suicide poem,and a cross from a faith that died before Jesus came,you're building a mystery." I'm not sure what the songwriters original attempt is but after reading the lyrics to this song and hearing this woman with such an amazing voice sing this song I get transported by as Hamlet said, "Words,words,words!" to a state of imagination. Artists like Cold Play and John Mayer have a similar effect with their incredibly creative word devices that cause a person's imagination to run free. Hmmm...it's 8:06pm and I just figured I'd throw out some thoughts. Two other songs that I haven't been able to get out of my head are Snoop Dogg and Pharrell singing 'Drop it Like It's Hot' and Usher and Alicia Keys' "My Boo" ...last night at Waffle House with Rich and Crystal and Jeevan and Tab we played Phase 10 and I downloaded those ring tones and before we left we decided to do the Electric Slide again with Rich leading the pack along to the tune of I Heard it Through The Grapevine. We had a blast. Anyway....Happy Holidays, Captain Rob

You've been waiting for it....

2004-12-16T14:11:00.000-11:00

I GIVE YOU BULLETS:

-Right now I am at work and Cold Play's song Clocks is playing over the radio in the lobby.

-Mr. Sunny the owner just walked by and asked me how I was doing and I gave a semi honest answer and said doing alright.

-There are four old ladies sitting in the lobby discussing something that happened in 1997...apparently one of the ladies had some health problems. Hmm....interesting

-I was just outside smoking and I talked to my friend Tabitha about getting some people together to meet Richard and I at the Waffle House around 11pmish. Then my friend Elise beeped in on the other line to say goodbye as she is leaving for home in Kingwood.

-Some old guy with the same group as the old ladies in the lobby just walked by with a look on his face that only God can read.

-Now another sweet old lady has just sat down and a man is standing in front of me telling me that the lobby toilet doesn't flush good...(like I care...just kidding,sort of).

-The old man who complained about the toilet is now sitting with the 5 old ladies like the big pimp daddy that he is...it's like Charlies Angels or something.

-Ok Perhaps I am exaggerating this whole bullet thing.

-And would it be considered ironic that I am giving you a post that I said would be in bullets but it is actually in dashes?

-Does that mean I am a dashing writer?

-I wonder.

-Welp.

-See ya later.

-Captain Rob Sparrow

A Poem

2004-12-15T14:21:00.000-11:00

It's been a long December as best as I can remember, the fluctuation and intonation of sounds from shivers and quivers; as the green grass withers beneath my feet, that coldness of winter is being felt from changing temperatures that I have been dealt. I find myself puzzled at this life that I awake to each passing day and the road that is unfolding before my steps I ponder which way to take as I seem mired in an unknown fog that is the future decisions filled with choices I have already made and I wonder to myself just why I've made the many mistakes I've made so far and as Neo wondered I'm sure as well the reason, "why" I do what I do. And when it all comes down I find myself feeling less like Neo as I second guess all the good things I've had expressed to me about the wonderful things that people see in this flesh I'll fill til I walk my last step upon this earth thats so filled with pain and regret. It is my hope that just one day I'll look in the mirror and see a face that's less like Thomas Anderson and more like "the One" whose capable of doing whatever he sets his heart to. The one who can walk about in confidence and humility as he's found a balance from within that helps him find comfort in this skin. I too am akin to finding such a sweet and wonderful peace as to where I can truly stop and say that not in the least, do I care anymore of things that cloud my heart and crush down upon these weary shoulders making me feel like I've taken o'er for the mighty Atlas, who's very job it is to carry such a weight as that of the entire earth. Rather, I want to embrace myself flaws and all, and to never forget the foot prints in the sand that never cease to hold my hand and lead me through this strangely magnificent middle earth that is just a shadowy vapor of a taste of the heavenly realms to come. It is in such composure as this that I find myself singing softly a song that my soul has been longing for all along...a song of joy that's neither based on circumstances or a certain circumference to the right set of happenings and goings on as it is just simply an opus of the life I have when I and Christ had first met to every moment since may I always remember and never forget.

Writer's Blog to a Writer's Log

2004-12-14T14:53:00.000-11:00

It's been about a week since I last blogged. I've sat or stood(at work)at the computer numerous times and went to www.blogspot.com typed my stuff in to no avail. I've had so much stuff on my heart and mind and the funny thing is...I can't type. Why? Because many of those times lately I've been either really pissed off cause of some things going on in my life or just so filled with thoughts that I found myself unable to pick anything to write about. Whew...ok. Well moving on. I have some good news...my cousin and I are looking for an apartment or house to rent and we may have found exactly what we are looking for today on North Washington near the Train Station and the Old Creamery building. Please keep us in your prayers as some things are needing to come together for us both but things look very promising. You know what I hope...that one day I'll have a good paying job and be somewhat secure in my finances. Sometimes it just seems so overwhelming all the stuff life throws at you. I feel like I'm Wiley Coyote sometimes and that life is that damn road runner dropping anvils on my head. Of course I'm not trying to catch life...or maybe I am in the sense that I want to find a life that is filled with meaning. Having been away from everything I knew for over a year to now suddenly finding myself right back where I began is meaningful at times and at others seems like the last place I want to be. I guess one of the best things I can do is count my blessings. Funny how doing that can put you in a totally different mood. When you realize how great you really have it. When I think of Brandon, Blake n Karla, Jason n Christy, Craig, Chi and Odie,Daniel,Micah,Richard, Kevin n Emily, Doug, My family,Misty,Scott,Joe and Becky,Corey and Marlene, Rigley,Dylan, Tracy,Richie,Jami,Sarah,Tabitha, Charlene,Rik,Aaron n Joni,Aaron Perkins,Donna and Trevor,Paul n Melissa,Ryan,Simpson,Johnny,Jeff,Jessica,Cornel,Blake Coleman,Casey and Sarah, Coulter,Aaron n Misty, Shawn, Elise,Andrew, JMac, and the list goes on and on...I have so many wonderful friends. Thinking of these people and the times I've had with them reminds me of the thing I am glad for most in my life...friends. God's given me many from all walks of life with so many talents and incredible abilities its just sick(meaning awesomely good) and then whenever we realize that even though we may have debt...we have our health and are living in a nation that is free and not in poverty...how great is that?(rhetorical question) What they say is right a man is what he thinks about all day long...it's been good for me to write all this out and realize, I have so much. Kind of like Paul did realizing that, whether he was in need or in need of nothing he could do all things through Christ who gave him strength to deal with anything. Well I seem to have went from having writers blog(ck) to having quite a writer's log. Later y'all, Captain Rob Sparrow

A New Addition to My Family

2004-12-08T14:22:00.000-11:00

Hey guys and girls, Just wanted y'all to know that as of today December, 8th 2004 at around 1:32pm I became the proud owner of a puppy dog! His name is Rigley he's a mutt(a cute one at that) and I'm very glad to let you know that we'll have pictures up soon. As soon as I figure out how to get those on here and have actually had time to take some. So now y'all have even more of an incentive to drive to Marshall, to see my dog! Hope all is well for you and yours. Ca caw ca caw! Captain Rob

A quickie =D

2004-12-07T17:50:00.000-11:00

Hey guys, I'm about to walk out the door from work. My relief is walking through the doors as we speak(read). Just thought the idea of titling a blog a quickie was funny. Hop y'all are well a longer blog later. Cheers mates, Captain Rob Sparrow

Theories of Personality: An Indepth Look at the Psyche of Captain Jack Sparrow;Abridged Version(A meager attempt at being Blake)

2004-12-03T14:20:00.000-11:00

The sun is setting on another tropical day in the Caribbean and on the horizon we see some sort of a boat approaching swiftly ...the silhoutte of a figure stands upon the crow's nest of what seems to be the makings of a fantastic ship. It is indeed! The Black Pearl is coming in from what seems to have been a long and prosperous voyage for the illustrious Captain Jack Sparrow. It is this man who has captivated audiences around the world. Johnny Depp, gained an even broader fan base with his portrayal of the very intelligent and witty pirate. It is Sparrow who is such a diverse character that it's very hard to figure him out.

Rather than trying to delve into a deep psychiatric profile and use various text book methods involving the exact sciences of the experimental method we shall rather as Carl Jung said,"Anyone who wants to know the human psyche will learn next to nothing from experimental psychology. He would be better advised to abandon exact science, put away his scholar's gown, bid farewell to his study, and wander with human heart throught the world. There in the horrors of prisons, lunatic asylums and hospitals, in drab suburban pubs, in brothels and gambling-hells, in the salons of the elegant, the Stock Exchanges, socialist meetings, churches, revivalist gatherings and ecstatic sects, through love and hate, through the experience of passion in every form in his own body, he would reap richer stores of knowledge than text-books a foot thick could give him, and he will know how to doctor the sick with a real knowledge of the human soul." This is what we shall attempt as we look at Sparrow who himself spent his life doing just that gaining a real knowledge of the human soul.

We first meet Captain Sparrow as he comes into Port Royale with a sinking ship and only a few shillings to his name. He has come for one purpose,"to commandeer a ship pick up a crew in Tortuga to rape,pillage, and plunder my weasley black guts out." The men he tells this to think he is lying but Captain Jack we come to find out is one of the most honest dishonest men we've ever encountered on the big screen. He has what we shall come to realize one goal and one goal alone getting the Black Pearl back. If we look at the actions of the at times seemingly mad pirate we see conflicting actions as in one moment he is jumping off a ship into rocky waters to save a complete stranger and then in the next moment threaten the same woman's life he saved to save his own. What is interesting is that when he is about to be arrested he has a group of onlookers watch as Commodore Norrington taunts him making fun of the fact he has no ship,extra shots for his gun, nor does he have a working compass. Through all these attacks on his character Sparrow is unscathed and confident. He knows who he is and what he is going after. Captain Jack Sparrow is a natural born leader.

Captain Jack Sparrow is such a gifted leader that he is able to stay cool under the most stressful of times. Whether being fired at by guns, cannons, or having a noose around his neck Captain Jack Sparrow is cool like the other side of the pillow. He also has the ability to make people follow his vision for needs to be done. He is incredible at seeing what seems to be the good of the whole and getting everyone on board and before the know it they are helping him get his ship back. You want to write a book about leadership that's great...you want to see a master at leading look at Captain Jack. We can accurately describe Jack as a charismatic leader, who is passionate about life, the Black Pearl, and women. Everywhere he goes he seems to see an old flame or a one night stand and they all usually seem to share the same feelings...an incessant need to slap him in the face. I'd also like to point out that although he's a pirate and a womanizer and he's deceived many one thing we can note about Jack Sparrow is his desire to not harm innocent people...it is Barbosa the mutinous first mate who took over Jack's ship that is ruthless and kills without a conscience.

"There is a creative power in the psychic life that is identical with the life force itself. This creative power has the capacity to anticipate, which is what it must do, just as looking ahead appears necessary because human beings move. The psychic life means movement and direction with one goal. Because the individual is not isolated, that goal must be designed by a creative force that springs from the urge to overcome the social problems that bar movement." -Alfred Adler This quote by Adler describes the typical human being and for Sparrow as we have stated above it is his life force that is driving him toward the goal of gaining the ship that was once his some 10 years ago...he is pursuing it with all his might and not letting anything keep him from it. Perhaps more on this matter later, I have a burning desire to go read all of C.S. Lewis's works within the next 2 weeks and if I start now I should be able to read nonstop and sleep later. I also have to give tennis lessons starting in the spring...(the lights dim and a spotlight falls quietly on me as the soft patter of bongos start to play, I put on a scarf a black pair of sunshades, light a stoggie) I hear the sound of people laughing as I finish up this evening shift..perhaps I'll catch some of that cheer that is everfound in this season of the year...it's Christmas trees and Santa Claus that leads my heart towards softer thoughts...and if I stop and pause, I think I find, that I am one with the air as I silently stand frozen somewhere...if only for a moment...I am free(long pause...the following said in utter seriousness...)Good night Sally,(pause)good night Sam(pause)good night Jip and Mittens....(a gentle hush falls over the blog)................ Pea Pie! =D

Blog, Blog, Blog, Blog, Blog Blah-ran

2004-12-01T20:30:00.000-11:00

Well, by the title of this blog you can tell it's pretty late at night...all of 1:40 am. I just got off the phone with my buddy Daniel Hazelwood, one of my best friends and one of the most talented guys I know, and just before we talked I was sitting down from another good chat with my friends Richard and Crystal at ...you guessed it Waffle House. I got off from work at 11pm and went over to see Richard; and Crystal was there at another booth studying as was Richard...I say "was" because within 20 minutes or so I had us all sitting at one table and taking time to eat double hashbrowns and waffles and play goofy songs on the juke box. That was awesome. Anyway...I hadn't posted in a while on here and just wanted to let y'all know I've had some stressful things on my plate and would appreciate your prayers for me in regards to spiritual and financial needs with a side of guidance. There is a quote from a Rich Mullins song I'd like to give y'all right now..."I can't see how you're leading me unless you've lead me here to where I'm lost enough to let myself be lead....and so you've been here all along I guess...it's just your way and you are just playing hard to get..." that whole song is so beautiful but it's the idea of being lost enough to let ourselves be lead. It reminds me of the scene towards the end of Bruce Almighty after Jim Carrey hears Jennifer Aniston pray and he's so upset and he's walking in the rain and he yells out, "I'm through with it..it's too much, I don't wanna be God anymore...I want you to decide what's right and what's wrong for me" it took alot of events but he came to the place of realizing how much we all depend on God...and the movie has Bruce ask God..."how do u make so many people love you without affecting free will"...which some of our readers might argue against...but I agree, being God is such an enormous role...and when we speak of His Glory( I remember being angry with God this one time in Tampa and yelling at God saying God you are so selfish...all we hear about is God's glory...it's all about Him...then I thought to myself...well Robert what have you done that's so great...I mean should we sing about Robert's glory...heck no...but maybe we could come up with a clever folks song...you know like Davy Davy Crocket only about me =D...just kidding) but seriously guys there really is no one else who is worthy of honor and praise than Almighty God. I thank him for letting me find my way...even though I get off the path at times...He's with me wherever I go...loving me and leading me and when he needs to correcting me as I am daily making my way down the path that is my life...the life he has given to me. Well everyone be blessed, Captain Rob

Turkey for me....turkey for you...here's a blog I wrote it's especially para tu...

2004-11-25T12:16:00.000-11:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Today has been a good day...I can say that, even though I am once again at LaQuinta Inn working 3 to 11pm. I was fortunate enough to be able to drive home last night to Atlanta...and as I was driving in to town, the John Mayer song about Daughters came on and that song for some reason made me think of my two little sisters...one of whom is married now and the other who is halfway through high school...both of which are a blessing to me and I thank God for how wonderful both of them are...Donna is confident,strongwilled, firm in her beliefs,beautiful,silly at times,compassionate,intelligent and a good friend and I thank God for bringing her Trevor who is a joy to have in our family as are his parents and siblings. Hannah is hilarious, she's got spunk, growing in her faith, I can relate alot to her, wonderful sense of humor,kind, beautiful,and she's my little sister. I love them both very much. Well as I was saying I was listening to this song and all of a sudden I see..wait it can't be yep it's Donna and Trevor's car just as I am coming into Atlanta (me from Marshall they from Tyler) at 12:30am and I pull up beside them honk the horn and roll my window down acting goofy...big brother stuff you know...anyway...I took what I thought to be a short cut going and blowing at 70 mile per hour and they still beat me by like 5 seconds to the house as we split off into two possible routes home...so what if they were a few seconds a head of me it's no big deal! =) Anyway. Then we all went in and stayed up til 2am talking to Mom and Dad and Hannah and we got to see our fireplace in action for the first time(this is our new house we've been in it for around a year now) and they had even more stuff up like pictures and it just really felt like home being there again. After 2 episodes of Seinfeld we called it a night and....

Wow! A new paragraph bet y'all didnt' see that one coming. Well this morning I got a call from my buddy Jason Edwards...at 8:00am and I was half asleep and we'd made plans to go out for breakfast me and him and Blake but I forgot the night before Blake had said we'd all wake up around 9 or 9:30 and they'd just come over whenever...I didn't know what time it was just that it was Jason calling to hang out so I said I'll be at Mickey D's in 10minutes...I got there and pulled up next to Jason and Blake's ride and we headed into the store that has been part of many fond memories for me since childhood and as we walk up to the counter the first thing out of Jason's mouth as I'm about to place my order is, "so you seen Super Size me?" To the common reader that might not be funny but if you know Jason and that he has an awesome sense of humor and that many times it's his timing that makes a joke or comment so hilarious...well when he said that I about lost it to laughter(cause the movie itself is saying how horrible McDonalds is)...I had to walk away for a second. Anyway we spent 2 hours talking about all sorts of stuff and then went bythe construction site I worked at a month ago and we quoted lines from Good Will Hunting that Matt and Ben quote when they work construction in the movie, the we went over and visited with my immediate family and just after they(Jason and Blake) left my extended family started showing up and we had a great time eating turkey and beans and corn and chocolate chip cookies and you get the idea. I thank my momma for fixin me some of her world famous chili so I'd have some supper tonight at the hotel as well as sending me away with some Chocolate chip cookies for the road. I also got to see Micah and Daniel Hazelwood and most of their family before zipping off to Marshall. "SO I am thankful that I'm incapable a whoa...of doing any good on my own(Caedmons Call song just popped in my head) and I am thankful for this day where I can get to gether with friends and family and stuff my face but even more importantly I can stuff my heart with quality time and goofing off and catching up.

Oops I did it again...don't worry this new paragraph isn't gonna be long just wanted to say "thanks" to everyone who reads my blog and comments and encourages me to keep on truckin...A question for anyone who wants to answer...if you could move anywhere in the world where would you move and why? Just a thought. Well take care everyone, eat, drink, and be merry, Captain Rob

i got a fevah and the only prescription, is more cow bell...

2004-11-21T18:26:00.000-11:00

Hey everybody, in case you are wondering that line for my title is a hilarious line from an SNL skit with Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken and friends. Chris Walken delivers the line and the whole cast is fighting off cracking up except for Jimmy Fallon he can't contain himself. Anyway...I had a fevah today and the only prescription was some time with my friends. I woke up around 3pm today and got cleaned up and checked my email and discovered my friend Sarah's cell phone doesn't work so she hadn't been able to call me back. So her and I met up and went to Waffle House and then came back and studied Spanish for a little bit then I took her to the Library to let her work on her paper...so I decided to head over to my friend Ryan LaCour's room and watch Smallville which he is awesome about taping for his friends and I enjoyed yet another fresh episode of the stories of Clark Kent growing up. Then I decided to walk across campus and talk to my buddy Blake Edwards...we discussed old times and how it would be perfect if we could have everyone move to Marshall and live on Campus and just hang out for another four (+) years. I was like well that would be heaven...then we said the obvious that the fact that that won't ever happen is what makes the times we do spend with friends that much more special...my time at ETBU was a wonderful one...it had it's up and downs but I have some of the fondest memories ever from my time there. Then after me and Blake rapped up talking for an hour which always seems like 5 or 10 minutes to me I headed back home and here I am my roomies are playing Halo 2 and I just a guitar lesson on how to play the song "The Scientist" by Cold Play. Man I'm sure hungry I guess I'll be heading out to get some chips and queso dip...sounds real good right now. Anyway...I'm kind of distracted so look for a more in depth blog later....take care everyone...Cheers mates! Captain Rob

Captain Rob Sparrow and the Hunt for the Treasure of Monte Cristo!!!

2004-11-18T14:31:00.000-11:00

Ok, don't let the title fool you...I did not find the treasure of Monte Cristo...although while I lived in Barcelona I did take a 5 day journey through France, Corsica,Italy, and out to Elba (which is an island pretty dang close to Monte Cristo) which ended in me not being able to go to Monte Cristo cause it's a restricted private island with a list of 1000 people a year being allowed onto it...at least I have a cool story of train and boat rides and sleeping in wild and crazy places...but back to a hunt for treasure, I have spent the last couple of weeks looking for treasure. Well let me explain...I've been going to work at around 8:30am to 9am every morning and working til about 1pm to 2pm going on Sales calls. The past 3 days we did what is called a Sales Blitz and went to companies back to back to back and a really cool guy named Greg from JYI(A management company) went along with me and my friend Richie on sales calls and I was very impressed at how he handled himself and his outlook on life. A very positive guy who absolutley loves sales and taking care of people...well as we drove around he said guys we're going hunting for treasure...you never know what place you enter that may be filled with numerous business opportunities. He was right we found lots of business from the places we hit and there is no telling how many more things will come from the seeds we planted. That was how my boss Ray was telling me he compared it to reaping and sowing...which I thought was cool cause it's true you may have lots of rejections but then you may be surprised how later on down the road things you did months ago will reap many rewards. So thus I decided to give a title that had some flavor and that would draw the readers in =) I'm at work right now and I keep having to stop in the middle of typing to check guests in...bear with me here comes someone right now...well those were pleasant people...heading to Houston from Memphis. I also want to share with y'all I'm exhausted. I'm working about 20 hours on the field doing sales and 40 hours a week on the desk and it's wearing on me. But as the old saying go, "money doesn't grow on trees....it's just made from them." And I think if I'd make myself sleep more I'd be a little more uppity during the day...but if you'll check out Cory Glover's blog you'll agree with him as I do...that it's almost like we know that we need sleep and we talk about it but we usually end up watching tv or talking on the phone or playing video games instead of getting the rest we say we so much long for. I'm making a point to get in bed at a decent hour tonight...at least before 2am. =) Well hope all is well for everyone...I have alot more to say but I am afraid I might get carpettunnelsyndrome(as David Spade called it in the GAP girl skit with Sandler and Farley) if I keep typing standing up with my hands at a screwy angle. So I'll make like a baby and head out...Til we meet again, Captain Rob Sparrow

This just in...

2004-11-13T16:50:00.000-11:00

Well, it's the close to yet another day. I'm nearing the end of my 3 to 11pm shift at the La Quinta Inn and I must say it's been a great day. I slept for 12 hours last night and awoke refreshed. You see I have been sleeping on my friends couch the past two weeks and working some 60 hours a week so last night I had a treat...I decided to unfold the hide a bed in the couch and throw the extra mattress on it and bundle up in my sleeping bag,downy blanket(I call it that cause it looks like the blanket the little downy bear falls into in those commercials from long ago)and another blanket that my old youth group at BYBC gave me. I slept so well that when I awoke at 10am I went right back to sleep and didn't wake up til 1:30pm today. I felt like a newly energized battery and I mean how awesome is that right??!?! I'm actually finding myself enjoying my job more and more and realizing that talking with the guests and not just checking'em in as if to say get the heck in your room and out of my site,is really paying off. Tomorrow is my sister Donna's birthday and she'll be turning 19! Happy Birthday Donna! I'll be going with my friend Richie tomorrow to spend the day with Donna and Trevor as we celebrate her Birthday and just vedge out. A quick story for everyone tonight a lady came down to register her pet(it was a collie) and I go "hey it's lassie! " and she kinda laughed to herself...then i said,"what's that girl(to the dog of course) old man smithers is trapped in the coal mine?!?! i'll go get help..." So we both got a kick out of that and I hope you do to. I find most people when you joke around with them will give you a smile or a laugh then there is the occasional anal retentive prick who will just stare at you with their jaw wide open and try to make you feel stupid...it's those people you really cherish...(yeah I'm being sarcastic). Well here is a question I have on the table for y'all...if you were stranded on a desert island(or heck let's say shipwrecked on an island) and could have only one cd what cd would you choose and why?(and for all the smart asses out there yes you have a cdplayer to listen to the cds on). Just food for thought...and I am a little disappointed that we didn't have more people write in on the question,"if you could have one super power and only one which one would you pick" thanks to Craig Nash who did respond. Well it is getting on into the evening I gotta go do some work and head home...everyone til we meet again, this is your friend and your captain saying get some rest take a deep breath and enjoy your day, Captain Rob Sparrow

P.S. Off the top of my head the CD I would chose would be either Third Day's Time cd or Cold Play's Parachutes and my power of course would be flying!

I been through the desert on a post with no name

2004-11-11T16:26:00.000-11:00

Well, hello. How is everyone? Me I'm doing pretty good...and yet it's been a pretty hectic day at work. The past two days have been spent with my mornings doing sales related things from cold calls to different businesses to showing our conference room to two sweet old ladies with my friend Richie to eating lunch with my supervisors Richie and Ray ...and thanks to Ray for his very giving heart not only financially but just letting all his staff know how much he appreciates them on a regular basis and to Richie for being sweeter than a Dr Pepper newly made...she's ahead of her years in many ways...and I'll 10-4 that any day of the week =) Well tonight has been especially fun with people walking in the doors back to back to back to you get the idea...well tonight as I had some frustrating thoughts going thru my head with people's heaters not working to figuring out priceline stuff to trying to not walk outside every few minutes to smoke I reminded myself to be glad everytime someone walked in and realize that this person has traveled God only knows how far to get to the part where they walk in and are presented before me...so I thought what a responsibilty...and what a fortunate thing to get to greet these people and ask them where they are from or where they are heading...it's strange how when we try and look at things from another perspective they can go from frustrating to fun....Benji Varner, a former RD at ETBU who is in the military services and Craig has asked for and I do as well prayer for him as his company is over at Fallujah, is an awesome guy what I remember about Benji was one morning when I was staying in my buddy Craig Nash's apt., who also is an amazing person who gives of himself whole heartedly, well I was walking down the hall with the worst case of bed head and sleepy eyes looking for a drink of water I saw Benji with the weekend warriors they were cleaning toilets and dirty rooms...he was so happy and just glad to be doing his job...it was like to him it wasn't work it was just an extension of a fun game to play or something...what a joyful guy...I remember so many other times seeing him and getting that exact same thought this guy just enjoys whatever he does...I think we could all learn something from Benji whatever you do work at it with all your heart as for the LORD and not for men. I also want to say thanks to Jason and Craig for their friendship and their encouragement to me to keep blogging and keep seeking to better myself and also letting me know that I'm wanted as a friend. Y'all are the bomb.com haha. So what else can I say for now except when life deals ya oranges make orangeade....=) no seriously guys I guess the purpose of this post is to remind us of focusing on the good things in our life and in so doing being surprised that even the most boring or frustrating circumstances can become fun and enjoyable. Hope all is well and man Blake and Clint and Justin need to get off their asses and write some more(you know what I'm sayin! said like Will Smith) On deck you scabbers dawgs, Captain Rob Sparrow

Surprised by Waffle House

2004-11-08T20:41:00.000-11:00

C.S. Lewis wrote a book called Surprised by Joy...so I figured this would make for an interesting title. Tonight my friend JMac burned me a new cd (cause I lost all of mine in Waco) and so the excitement of having music again lifted my spirits and I called my friend Sarah Prejean to go for a drive and a snack and to listen to the new hits...so as I'm driving over I get a call from another friend of mine Tab and we decided to get the old gang together and head to waffle house for a meeting at 10:30pm to play Phase 10 and drink coffee and other breakfast items in the company of friends...sad to say Chi wasn't able to attend cause he's still in Tampa...he was very much missed...we all decided to call him and let him know we were thinking about him and miss him very much. So it ended up being Richard, Sarah, Tab, Crystal, Jeevan and Kim(who was mentioned earlier in a post let me clarify). Interestingly enough when I got out at waffle house of my Jeep I saw Tab and her friend Kim and it turns out she (Kim) is the president of the ETBU choir...the same girl who when I got the chance to sneak in and sing with the choir at homecoming(check earlier posts for more infor) that told me (not unknowingly but rather she informed me with joking sarcasm )that she was glad to hear of a new person in choir and would look forward to seeing me at the next choir practice on Monday...it turns out I hadn't fooled her she was game on me and Perk's robertintheback sneak...anyhoo just wanted to clear that up. Ok back to the waffle house...well we went in and the four of us sat down then Jeevan and Crystal showed up and then shortly after Rich did....and the evening was awesome we sat around talking and playing Phase 10 and listening to songs from Bad Bad Leroy Brown, In the Jungle to Tell me Something Bad About That by George Strait...good times...it felt good to be around familiar faces again...so I write the title to be Surprised by Waffle House...cause at first glance it doesn't seem like much but for many of me and my friends it's a place that draws us and we find we can come together and sit and leave our troubles outside...(prepartory cough before singing) "making your way in the world today takes everything ya got...something and something and something something sure would help alot...wouldn't ya like to get away...(music notes) sometimes you wanna go! where everybody knows your name....(more piano notes) and there always glad ya came.(ditto)you wanna be where you can see your troubles are all the same...you wanna go where everybody knows your name...(end of cheers music)." Well it's time for bed for this ol' country boy...y'all take care...look forwarding to seeing ya again sooner than later I hope. Drink up me hearties yo ho! Captain Rob

"Yo ho Yo ho a pirates life for me...we're devils we're black sheep were really bad eggs....drink up me hearties yo ho....yo ho yo ho a pirate's life for me!" Oh I love this song =)

A Deep Well

2004-11-06T23:33:00.000-11:00

The bible has compared a man's heart to a deep well...and to me it is this comparison I can relate the most to at this point in my life. Being back home it seems every old friend I talk to I have so much to pour out to them, from hopes for my future to struggles I'm still battling daily...I am overflowing with ideas and emotions and desires to live and love life. Lately the idea of truly casting my cares on Christ cause he cares for me is something I am resolved to do with reckless abandon. I want to all out stop caring about pleasing people...to be content to be in a room full of people and not feel as though I have to entertain everyone. I want to be a better listener. I have had so many talks with so many different people from different walks of life...I see a common denominator...we're all going through stuff and the hearts of so many men and women are filled with deep hurts and longings...we put on our faces each day..it's funny to me to hear someone say Robert Butler seems like a down to earth, care free kinda guy. I'm not...or maybe I am and just need to realize that more. I am reminded of The Oracle's apt. in the Matrix...the Greek word(i think) that says Know Thyself. I'm still trying to get comfortable in this skin. I'm glad to say that I have definitely gotten a better idea lately...and what's great is that I'm learning that although he's got his faults ol' Robert Butler is a pretty alright guy and he's blessed beyond comprehension with friends that more than they can understand have been a great joy to his(my) life. I love people I love my friends and thank God for friendships. Well guys it's pretty late...I'm at the La Quinta and it's time for me to start putting the breakfast bar stuff out. I hope everyone is doing well...it's good to get some off my heart...and remember as Proverbs tells us...."guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life." Until next time, this is Captain Rob saying eat, drink, and be merry lads =)

Guess who's back, back again, Robert's back tell a friend

2004-11-02T20:24:00.000-11:00

Well it's been awhile and Jason thanks for the encouragement for a new post. I haven't written on here in a long time. I haven't gone by the name Obi-wan for sometime...sorry had to say that cause when I wrote the thing about a long time I was reminded of Alec Guiness that awesome magical man who made Obi-wan Kenobi so real to us all. Anyway...I am living in ...no not Luxmburg or Thailand or Montana(although maybe someday) I have moved to the good ol city of Marshall once again. I am living on my buddies Josh and Andrew's couch til I find a place of my own. I am now working full time at La Quinta Inn and God has blessed with me with a wonderful group of people to work with there. I found I have made fast friends with the staff and look forward to building frienships with all that I am working with. Oh and also some more big news I have gotten out of the Navy. Long story but I made up my mind and feel that God has great things for me. I also am gonna be trying my hand at working sales...my manager has given me a part time gig going on Sales calls so pray for me to just give it my all and to have fun with it. A new experience...always something I enjoy. How is everyone out there. I find myself longing for regularity and stability...sure I still love the idea of traveling all over but I need to build up a home base to come back to...my friend Richard and I were talking and he said how he loves to have a home...somewhere he can go for solitude...I agree there is something awesome in that...heck look at Superman he had his..a fortress he called it...Christ took time to go out in the wilderness and be alone with God...solitude can be a wonderful thing...we are so scared or rather many times I am so scared of it...cause then I have no one else to converse with but my thoughts and the Lord. But man some of my best times come from such excursions. Well I am gonna try and start keeping this thing up better. Hope all is well for everyone and y'all come see me sometime or something. =) Take care, Rob

Today was a good day

2004-10-16T15:26:00.000-11:00

Well the sun has set on another beautiful east Texas day. I was fortunate to get to see alot of wonderful people many I hadn't seen in a long while today. I went to the ETBU Homecoming Football Game and saw my friend Andrew O'Kelley walk on a field with other King Nominees...and even though he didn't get 1st or 2nd or heck even 3 place...I let him know that no matter what sink or swim win or lose...that he was my king...(sung to the song with the same title) anyway after that I was walking to throw away a Wendy's bag I'd picked up coming in from Atlanta...and low and behold Aaron Perkins side hugs me and says hey bud you wanna sing with the ETBU Choir....(Let it be said that Aaron Perkins has a wonderful heart and his relationship with the Lord is inspiring to me and what I also love about Aaron is that he is capable of getting into a bit of harmless mischief from time to time.) So we stashed my empty drink and bag on a golf cart and blended in with the choir...well I blended he belonged there...I even walked right past the director...luckily everyone was in plain clothes or the stunt wouldn't have been attempted...so I walk around with Aaron and we mingled with other choir people...and then our time had come and we all walked onto the field in a sort of formation and lined up in two rows in front of a huge crowd of fans and I kid you not I was standing tall in the direct center in the back line beside ol' Perk and I was directly facing the director...Aaron signaled me to wait and let the girls start us off...cause the music kicked on and he let me know when and when not to sing...it was one of the highlights of my day and as we finished up singing and were walking off the field...this girl walked up to me and goes hi I'm so and so the ETBU Choir President and I shook her hand and she asked if I'd joined recently...and I said uh yeah I did...then she goes well I guess we'll see you at practice on Monday and I told her sure thing I'd be there a little early even...man I got a kick out of it all and I do thank Aaron Perkins for giving me that opportunity. I also saw many other old friends from REC Team I got to chit chat with Kevin Durham, JMac Williams, Ryan La Cour and many other friends from long ago...then as if that weren't enought I drove back to Atlanta over to my buddy Blake Edwards house and went next door to his Aunt Judy's(who by the way is hilarious and awesome) and saw a wonderful family getting together to celebrate Blake and Karla's marriage and moving back to Texas...the scenery over there is just amazing...ain't nothing like a good old east Texas pasture with a starry sky to just make you feel right at home. So thanks to Blake for inviting me out I had a blast bro...and Jason I am sorry that you had to go back early it'd been awesome to see you as well. So now I find myself in front of this computer again wondering as Jimmy Stewart did in Harvey..."where has the evening went"....and if you would say that out loud in your best Jimmy Stewart voice...."where has the evening went" ok anyway...it's been fun and it's been real...and now with all things in life that we wonder and look forward to at the end of another day I will give you these words as Edmond Dantes (The Count of Monte Cristo) did to young Maximillian and Valentine when he said simply, "Wait and hope."

Good evening to all and to all a good night, Robert

Captain's Log

2004-10-15T15:22:00.000-11:00

Captain's Log Star Date 4.1618, We've just arrived into uncharted territory, (said like Jim Carrey making fun of William Shatner) actually we've just arrived at another day, another blog by Robert Charles Butler, I was over at my Mamaw and Papaw's tonight and me and Papaw were talking about how there are so many Sr.'s and Jr's and Thirds in our family...I'll save you the geneaology lesson but just thought I'd share that I was almost Charles Ray Butler the third and that originally mom liked the name Christopher for me. Somehow the fates or rather my parents would have it another way...and I was deemed Robert Charles Butler the one and the only. Papaw said he'd have liked my name to have been the third cause it's an honor to have someone named after you and it kinda gives you something to live up to. Well I got the Charles and I have two great examples that I look up to in my Father and my Grandfather. I know that in the past people put alot of emphasis on names and their meaning. Robert means 'Bright Fame' and 'Excellent Worth' and Charles means 'Strong, Manly' and of course a Butler is a servant I used to not be fond of what my last name meant cause of the idea of butlers and jeeves and what not but you know what not anymore it's something I've been given from my father and my grandfather and we've all made our mistakes but I thank God that I've been given such a good and respected name. I thank God for my parents they have always been there for me and as I've gotten older they've become my good friends I'm very blessed to have a wonderful family that loves me and I would like to ask for y'alls prayers because my Papaw, Mamaw, Grandma, and Uncle Carl and Uncle Eddie and my Father have all recently been having health problems. Anyhoo...just wanted to throw that out there and ask for some intercession for my family. Ok on to more lighthearted things I got two more months and some weeks before I ship out to the Navy...well I said lighthearted but anyway it's really opened my eyes to what our soldiers sacrifice by leaving loved ones behind to serve and protect our country, they need our prayers so much, and I know everyone knows this but from someone who it's becoming more real to everyday I just wanted to mention it. It's kinda hard to try and right humorous things right now. I'm dead tired and you know what I really don't have anything funny to say...I hope everyone has a good night...Thanks to you who take the time to read my blog and I wanna give a shout out to the Godfather in Tampa FL Chia-Yu Kuo...miss ya dawg hope you and Odie are doing well. Take care everyone, Blake and Karla look forward to seeing y'all in Atlanta tomorrow and Goodnight John Boy, oh and let's not forget....Good night Sally Good night Sam Good Night Jip and Mittens!!!! HA I did have something funny to say...if you know the history behind that children's book...oh and let's not forget about Simon Shlick that old grey mule...ok take care ...can I get a CA CAW CA CAW!!(Bottle Rocket)

Laters(British Accent), Robert Charles Butler

Say kids, what's the deal with homework(?) you're not working on your home...

2004-10-14T13:30:00.000-11:00

The title of this post comes from a line I fine especially funny that came at the end of an episode of Seinfeld. Jerry is in front of a bunch of elementary school kids and his buddy George just went from super smart(like John Travolta in Phenomenon) to being an idiot that nobody is bigger than. Anywho...I liked it and I can't seem to start a post if I don't have a title up there where it says...well you know. You'd think I'd not have stuff to write about working construction 8 hours a day doing pretty routine stuff from nailing felt onto a roof, to handing up big sheets of plywood to people, to insert some random thing you associate with construction I've probably gotten to do it. Well today between the fart jokes that good ol'Ricky made(which by the way good ol country boys tend to put the word ol' in front of everything...well ol' Mike he came by the shop the other day and ol whatshisface showed up and some ol' little kid threw a rock at us...ol' as in old as in old kid does that really make any sense but somehow in redneck english it does). Ok well anyway between all those jokes and us all just laughing at each other I looked at this wrapper for a bag of Doritoes and keep in mind it was windy all day today, well see this bag was sorta just floating along like in an old western movie where the single dust ball goes across the path of the two guys fixing to show down...and I looked at it and made sure that no one could see me and I took two of my fingers and pretended (as with some Jedi force push or mind thing) that I was moving the bag. Then later I looked at the trees as they were blowing and thought to myself I'll pretend as if I have like super breath and then I went (wind noise) and I thought Robert you are retarded...and I thought how can I fit this into the blog later and maybe even have something spiritual to say(yes we can't leave this as just Robert being dumb we've got to find some deeper meaning) well I thought how it's fun to pretend like we can force push stuff(like when you go through an automatic door and wave your hand in front of it...come on I know all y'all have at some point in your life I don't care if it was when you were a kid) any way we all like to feel like we can control things...when in fact and I thought about this, see a wise man once said,"the wind is God's way of touching us" (actually I made that up one day when I was doing a nature walk for some kids when I was on REC team and they wouldn't believe me when I said I made it up)and finishing up my original point God is in control of not only the wind but he's sovereign he's over us all and not even a sparrow crashes to the ground without God knowing about it just as every hair on our head is numbered, and I guess as I thought about how ridiculous me tryin to pretend I could control the wind or other various objects how even sillier it is for us as humans to not trust in the LORD with all of our hearts. Ok I told you guys this thing was gonna be random...so CINNAMON ROLL! (For those of you who saw that episode of whatever night show it was I think it was Leno with Jim Carrey you can really appreciate what I just wrote for those of you who didn't man you really missed out on some funny stuff hahahahaha) ok. So as Columbo was famous for saying there is just one more thing...I talked to Kevin Durham today and found him at a game of golf but what was real cool was I got to chat with someone I hadn't talked to in a long time...Dr. Harris for it was he who answered the phone...apparently Kevin couldn't put his money where his mouth was and had to buy drinks for the Doc and Blake Coleman. I got a kick out of talking to them guys. And I think most everyone who will read this knows that Dr. Harris is Dean of the Religion school and an awesome teacher and just a really good hearted guy. A question I've been asking people alot lately...is if you could have one superpower any power at all what would it be. Mine of course is flying...my friend Kelsey and I were discussing my answer and other peoples and she posed the question perhaps that is kinda symbolic for you longing to be free...and I can definitely agree with that plus flying is like the coolest thing ever. So if anyone would like to post a comment and include what there power would be and why feel free. Or just read my post and dismiss it. I mean crap I don't really care if you like my post, I'll do whatever I feel like gosh!(you have to read that last sentence as if I was saying it like Napoleon Dynamite who by the way is hilarious if you haven't seen sorry about that one too). Ok guys well thanks for sitting down with me and I appreciate every comment I've received. Drink up me hearties yo ho! Captain Rob Sparrow

PS IF you haven't bought the new Ray Charles cd Genius Loves Company go buy it and listen to Number 3 it is DYNO MITE!

About a Blog

2004-10-13T15:54:00.000-11:00

Well hello again dear friends, I decided to check out if anyone had even read my durn blog and low and behold a few of you had. Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate them and to the Table Guy Mr Jason J. Diddy Dawg Money Edwards...I want to thank you for reminding me in your comments that punctuation is effective in getting your meaning across I read what you wrote and laughed. So who wants to talk politics? Interesting debate between George and John...and no I don't mean Harrison and Lennon...=) It's interesting how support for someone can change the comments of a room. At my house I heard so many grunts and gripes against things Kerry said which for me is understandable...then I pictured what would happen at a house where Bush isn't so popular...Kerry says,"blah blah blah...." and the room is filled with cheers...I really don't have anything worth writing to say in the sense of enriching your lives politically but rather I just wanted to maybe open our minds to think about if we truly do try and hear both sides of the issues cause I am sure both Kerry and Bush have legitimate things to say it's just that George Dubya is always right ALWAYS! See if you don't take time think about both sides before you take a stance you might come across as a bit biased(BUSH RULES said quickly in a whisper)but that's not what I'm about or any of us at Butler headquarters here in Atlanta, TX. Moving on I'd like to say that I was sad to hear that Christopher Reeve passed away...just want to say thanks for your inspiration in so many ways to the world and to the young boy inside of me who still believes a man can fly...ok guys well why only minutes have passed to you I've been on here an hour I just got off the phone with an old friend Jeff Perkins and I have to be up at 6am so I'm gonna head on out. Hope all is well for everyone. Take care, Robert

Craig, do you believe in love? I believe in love...I do say we all need to go hit up another karoake bar before I ship out. Y'all Craig Nash aka Clocktower is frickin wicked awesome (said with a boston accent) when it comes to laying out tunes on the mic in a karaoke bar. Ca caw ca caw!

A few words about my day

2004-10-12T15:03:00.001-11:00

Well hello everyone. Today got kicking around 6:30 this morning as I woke to the sound of my alarm blaring I hit snooze cause I could afford to sleep another 9 minutes cause it takes all of 10 minutes to get ready for work and I work like 3 minutes away. Today started with me getting to gopher at the jobsite...go for this that and the other...when this guy comes by and tells my boss he needs someone to help with the plumbing with one of my boss's houses he owns...so me and another guy Roger got to head over there and spend the day fixing some pipes underneath a house. At first I had this great! this really sucks attitude then I realized that I could either be sore the whole afternoon or try and learn something and make the most of the situation. Life's funny like that...like Qui Gon Jinn told young Anakin...your focus determines your reality. That is so true. Another quote I like is that from God's word that a man's heart is a deep well...I know that God has placed so many desires in my heart...to live a full life to love a wonderful woman deeply...to help others to have children to teach them about life and the wonders of this incredible world that God has given us. I want to learn the piano...Ray Charles inspires me ....everyone needs to go see the movie about him on October the 29th. I have told my very dear friend Kelsey =) that her and I gotta go see it. Kelsey is such an amazing wonderful friend to me and I thank God for her. Well I just wanted to share some pieces of me. Hope all is well for everyone. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6. Take care y'all, Robert

My First Post

2004-10-09T16:16:00.000-11:00

Hey guys, Well you've all been waiting for it....and I don't have any idea what will come out of this all...I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts and feelings on life and hearing your thoughts on things you might find interesting or funny but I can guarantee you that you will definitely find my blogs to be one thing for sure....and that is random. I want to say thanks to Blake and Craig and Jason for giving me that extra nudge to get this set up. I am in Waco currently and Lord knows where all I'll be as I add more things to this site. Take care everyone...Cheers...(if you have a drink lift it up with me...you probably don't and you know what neither do I....hold on ok I got some water...and lifted it and have said Cheers...won't you join me) as we see where this journey together will take us. Good evening then, Robert