So, being down here on the strip so much has really awakened me to the homelessness problem here in Knoxville. Just looking out the window this last hour, I've probably seen ten walk by. I could never imagine living the life they do, and not having a place to call home. So, I was thinking...What if a bunch of us got together one weekend and did a homeless person search. No, not to poke fun or to see just how many we can find, but to search for them and reach out to them and let them know God is watching out for them. I was thinking, if everyone that went spent like $10-$20 and went to McDonald's or Wendy's and got 15 or 20 99 cent burgers, we could give so many people a meal! You know, depending on how many people went, we could easily feed 100 people a meal! And even if you spent $5 or $10, that's still around 8 or 9 people getting a free meal. It would probably come with a little bit of walking, and of course cash coming out of our pockets. But hey, you have a home to go rest in when we get done walking, and you've probably got cash to spare, especially if you are on the internet reading this. I really think we should seriously consider doing this! And maybe this summer, we could hand out bottles of water or something. Let me know if you think you'd be interested in going!! I know it sounds like a small idea, but think of the people we could help, and of the people who would be blessed by us doing something God would love us to do!
That's it for right now.
Have a wonderful day!
Travis
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Tennessee Weather...
...is so annoying! One day, it's nice and bright and sunny, maybe 55 or 60 degrees. Next thing you know, it's a high of 45. I'm just so ready for spring and permanent, warm temperatures!
This week should be pretty busy. I have four classes today. Tomorrow, I might work, but more importantly, I need to interview my papaw for my english paper which is due Friday...that I haven't started yet...If I have to work tomorrow, I guess I'll do my interview on Wednesday. Interviewing him is only half of the process though: I have to then WRITE the paper of course.
As for today though, I'm going to have lunch, then head to the bookstore and sell my books back from last semester and also my Geology book from this semester. I probably should keep my Geology book and read it, but...a.) I don't read it, b.) the book is online, and c.) all of the questions that are on the test that come from the book are also online in quiz format, so I don't need the book. I have a total of around $400 worth of books that I'm returning. Their return policy is that if returned after the dropout full return date, then they'll return 50 % of what I paid for them. So, hopefully, that should be about $200 in my pocket by noon today :D
After math, french, and then my lab, I think Amanda and I are going to hang out and go grocery shopping. I really want to go to Dick's and get a rain jacket too! I have one currently, but I got it in 6th grade, so the sleeves are waaaay to short, and I roll them up all the time so nobody notices. But, in all seriousness, it doesn't work that well to begin with. It kinda gets saturated easily, and then gets all heavy and I get cold. I'm hoping Dick's still has this jacket I saw this weekend. They had a bunch on Clearance, so if not, I'll hopefully be able to find another one. The one I want is like white and grey and it's a Columbia for only $50, so it's a good deal.
I'm trying to figure out something routine to do on here. Like for instance, Deena does LLF every Friday. I just wish I had something to do weekly or daily or something. Chris had suggested talking about a restaurant in every post, so I could do that, but I keep eating at the same places.
Oh, I was reading for English, and I came across a passage that talked about Christians and how they live on earth. I thought it was very interesting and very true. This is from John Rice Irwin's "Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer":
"When you're raising your garden you're always bothered with weeds, grass and insects. That's the devil, and you have to keep all them things away or you won't produce anything. The same way with people-you've got to keep the devil away if you're going to amount to anything."
Have a good Monday!
Travis
This week should be pretty busy. I have four classes today. Tomorrow, I might work, but more importantly, I need to interview my papaw for my english paper which is due Friday...that I haven't started yet...If I have to work tomorrow, I guess I'll do my interview on Wednesday. Interviewing him is only half of the process though: I have to then WRITE the paper of course.
As for today though, I'm going to have lunch, then head to the bookstore and sell my books back from last semester and also my Geology book from this semester. I probably should keep my Geology book and read it, but...a.) I don't read it, b.) the book is online, and c.) all of the questions that are on the test that come from the book are also online in quiz format, so I don't need the book. I have a total of around $400 worth of books that I'm returning. Their return policy is that if returned after the dropout full return date, then they'll return 50 % of what I paid for them. So, hopefully, that should be about $200 in my pocket by noon today :D
After math, french, and then my lab, I think Amanda and I are going to hang out and go grocery shopping. I really want to go to Dick's and get a rain jacket too! I have one currently, but I got it in 6th grade, so the sleeves are waaaay to short, and I roll them up all the time so nobody notices. But, in all seriousness, it doesn't work that well to begin with. It kinda gets saturated easily, and then gets all heavy and I get cold. I'm hoping Dick's still has this jacket I saw this weekend. They had a bunch on Clearance, so if not, I'll hopefully be able to find another one. The one I want is like white and grey and it's a Columbia for only $50, so it's a good deal.
I'm trying to figure out something routine to do on here. Like for instance, Deena does LLF every Friday. I just wish I had something to do weekly or daily or something. Chris had suggested talking about a restaurant in every post, so I could do that, but I keep eating at the same places.
Oh, I was reading for English, and I came across a passage that talked about Christians and how they live on earth. I thought it was very interesting and very true. This is from John Rice Irwin's "Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer":
"When you're raising your garden you're always bothered with weeds, grass and insects. That's the devil, and you have to keep all them things away or you won't produce anything. The same way with people-you've got to keep the devil away if you're going to amount to anything."
Have a good Monday!
Travis
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Floorsets are over!
Thank goodness! Monday, there was a women's floorset, and I was at work until 11:50 pm, and last night, we put the new men's stuff out and were there until around 11:15. I love them, but they make me so tired! Here's what a floorset consists of, just in case you weren't sure. Taking down old stuff that's hanging in a bay and moving it to either the stock room, a clearance rounder, or somewhere else on the floor. Then, you have to take down all of the bay equipment (shelves, shelf holders, hangrails, bars, etc.). Then, figure out what equipment you need to build the new bay, and get it and put it up. This here takes some working with, since you have to measure and make sure everything's lined-up and straight. Then, you go back to the stock room and get your product that goes in your bay, or get it from the sales floor if it's already out. Now, you have to fold it all, and place it in the bay where it goes and make sure it's sized (xs, s, m, l, xl, xxl). You also have to put up pretty new displays that look oh so perfect in the floorset picture, and they take forever too. Also, you have to put up new marketing if there is any, and also do markdowns for anything that you put out that's discounted. Last night, I had to take down 4 bays, move 2, and build 2 bays. It doesn't sound like it'd be that hard, but trust me, it wears you out!! They're over for now though, so that's good.
Tonight I get to go home and rest. Tomorrow I'm scheduled to work from 5:30 to 10, but I'm trying to find someone to cover my shift. My uncle passed away 5 years ago tomorrow, and the family is going out to dinner, and I really want to go. Friday I'm off too, so I finally get to have a nice weekend night to do what I want. Overall though, my next paycheck should be nice!: )
Have a good day!
ps-if you've got a fishing license, GO FISHING SATURDAY! It's the last day to legally fish with last year's license. lol, random I know
Tonight I get to go home and rest. Tomorrow I'm scheduled to work from 5:30 to 10, but I'm trying to find someone to cover my shift. My uncle passed away 5 years ago tomorrow, and the family is going out to dinner, and I really want to go. Friday I'm off too, so I finally get to have a nice weekend night to do what I want. Overall though, my next paycheck should be nice!: )
Have a good day!
ps-if you've got a fishing license, GO FISHING SATURDAY! It's the last day to legally fish with last year's license. lol, random I know
Friday, February 20, 2009
Winter just...stinks!
Well, I haven't updated in once again nearly a month, so I thought maybe just maybe I should do that. School is going well I suppose. I've received some good news and blessings in the past couple of weeks. I finally got the news last Sunday that I'm permanent at American Eagle, so hopefully I will begin to get good hours every week. I guess I'll see tonight when I get my schedule. I also applied at Marshall's, and I got an interview scheduled, but I couldn't make it because of a lab exam, and then I found out Sunday about staying at AE, so I decided to forget about Marshall's for the time being. My mom went to mediation on Monday, and she got some great news about the next 8 years of our lives. My dad will end up paying her $1400 a month until my brother is 18 (July of 2012), and then $550 a month after that until our house is payed off, which should be sometime in late 2016. My brother has to spend every other weekend with my dad from 6pm friday to 6pm on sunday, or until he's ready to come back. It's kinda a rule thing, but if Alex has plans, then he doesn't HAVE to go to my dad's-as long as it's Alex's choice, and not my dad's.
In other news, I have been phoneless now for about 2 weeks. It stinks. But hopefully, I will get one this weekend, so I can rejoin the communication spectrum of life. If that makes sense.
Anywho, so how does winter stink, you're asking? Well, it just does, but I think lately there have been a few lights at the end of the 08/09 tunnel of winter. Liek my job status, the divorce terms, the sparatic days of good weather we've had. So, hopefully it'll stick around some!
On Tuesday, I decided to go out on a bike ride with my brother, since the weather was fairly decent. I don't know how many of you know where I live, but it's kinda by the ghetto in Oak Ridge. If you're on Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, between the Rush/Comcast and Big Lots/Pet Supplies Plus, there is a road, Tuskegee Drive, that goes back inbetween those shopping centers. I live about a mile back there. There's a bike trail behind my house, and if you continue on the road for about another mile past my house, it turns into a one-lane gravel road. So my brother and I decided to go down there and go exploring past a gate that we've always noticed. We got to the gate, looked, and there was NOTHING about tresspassing, so we thought, "why not?" I figured out that it was a cell tower from the sign on the gate. So, we entered and began the trip up, which actually took a good 20 or 30 minutes! Well, we got SO close to the top and then it started raining. By that time, we were about a mile from my truck, so we hurried back down the hill and when we got to the bottom, it stopped raining! Then my brother looks at the gate, goes over to it, pushes it, and it OPENS! Not EVEN locked! So, he gets the genius idea that I should bring my truck up there. We did. We finally got to the top (I say finally bc I don't have 4wd, and let's say I had to really struggle to get up the last hill). It was so pretty! I could see Walmart on one side, and then part of the city on the other. I plan on returning! :) It's the cell tower that's on the ridge across from the Boy's Club in Oak Ridge, if you know which one I'm talking about. It's a Cingular tower actually.
Anyway, useless story. I will seriously try to update more y'all.
Have a great weekend!
Travis
In other news, I have been phoneless now for about 2 weeks. It stinks. But hopefully, I will get one this weekend, so I can rejoin the communication spectrum of life. If that makes sense.
Anywho, so how does winter stink, you're asking? Well, it just does, but I think lately there have been a few lights at the end of the 08/09 tunnel of winter. Liek my job status, the divorce terms, the sparatic days of good weather we've had. So, hopefully it'll stick around some!
On Tuesday, I decided to go out on a bike ride with my brother, since the weather was fairly decent. I don't know how many of you know where I live, but it's kinda by the ghetto in Oak Ridge. If you're on Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, between the Rush/Comcast and Big Lots/Pet Supplies Plus, there is a road, Tuskegee Drive, that goes back inbetween those shopping centers. I live about a mile back there. There's a bike trail behind my house, and if you continue on the road for about another mile past my house, it turns into a one-lane gravel road. So my brother and I decided to go down there and go exploring past a gate that we've always noticed. We got to the gate, looked, and there was NOTHING about tresspassing, so we thought, "why not?" I figured out that it was a cell tower from the sign on the gate. So, we entered and began the trip up, which actually took a good 20 or 30 minutes! Well, we got SO close to the top and then it started raining. By that time, we were about a mile from my truck, so we hurried back down the hill and when we got to the bottom, it stopped raining! Then my brother looks at the gate, goes over to it, pushes it, and it OPENS! Not EVEN locked! So, he gets the genius idea that I should bring my truck up there. We did. We finally got to the top (I say finally bc I don't have 4wd, and let's say I had to really struggle to get up the last hill). It was so pretty! I could see Walmart on one side, and then part of the city on the other. I plan on returning! :) It's the cell tower that's on the ridge across from the Boy's Club in Oak Ridge, if you know which one I'm talking about. It's a Cingular tower actually.
Anyway, useless story. I will seriously try to update more y'all.
Have a great weekend!
Travis
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Weekend in Review
^That's what I had to drive through yesterday to get to school^
I had a wonderful time, this long weekend. Amanda and I went to some new restaurants (typical me, right? Talking about food...). The first one we went to has been there for a little while, but it was my first time going. It was Trio in Market Square. The best thing I can compare it to is Panera. The prices are decent, and they have a good selection. We ate dinner that night in Market Square, at Cafe 4. It's been open only for a month or so, and the new-ness is still showing. They still have a few things to work on, but overall, it was great! The prices were a little higher, but we still ate for $30. It was really modern/contemporary inside, which I loved. It's nice and cozy, and on one side of the dining room, there is a HUGE wall, completely of glass. There is an adjacent concert room, called the Square Room, that you could see while you were eating. It has kinda the "uppidy" atmosphere of Aubrey's, but in an old building. Not to mention, the food was delicious. I had lobster Mac & Cheese, and oh...it was wonderful! For dessert, we had carrot cake, and it was some of the best carrot cake I have ever had! It was SO moist and perfect!
Anyway, enough of my food rants...Sunday I actually went to the Ridge for the first time in an eternity. The snow has been wonderful, and I was so hopeful that I would get out of school, but I forgot that the UT president only drives 5 minutes to work, and doesn't have a clue about others' weather issues : ). Can you sense my sarcasm? The roads were pretty rough around my house, but once I got to Illinois, it was pretty much good.
I have a French test today, so I hope to do well on that lol. But I'm glad this is a short week!! :D
Stay warm!
Travis
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Apocolypse: I'm posting!
Isn't it funny how dogs show us how they love us?!
Anyway, Spring semester has started, and I haven't been keeping up (surprise, right). So, a little bit about my classes...
English- MWF, 9:05-9:55...My teacher is once again a grad student, but she seems pretty cool. We're studying about Appalachian history and Memory. It doesn't seem like to hard of a class.
Math- MTWF, 12:20-1:10...Calculus hasn't started out as difficult as I thought it would be! I'm actually getting it lol. We once again don't have to do the book homework, but we are assigned homework through an online submission program, where I do like 5 problems online for points, so it makes us do some work.
French- MWF, 1:25-3:20...Yep! 2 hrs! I'm doing an intensive French class, which means it's two classes in one, and for two hours. I could either take French 211 this semester, then take 212 next semester, or take French 211/212 this semester, and be done with it. So, I chose the latter. My teacher is pretty cool, she's actually from Bordeaux, France. It seems like it'll be a pretty cool class.
Geology- TR, 9:40-10:55...It's actually basically Environmental Science. It's kinda boring, but oh well, the lab is really easy at least!
I'm looking forward to this weekend. It's a long weekend, for starters! Tonight, Amanda, Alex, and I are going to the Ice Bears game! I got a coupon for buy 2 tickets, get 1 free, so I thought, hey, something to do!
Guess that's about it for now. I got this great windshield wiper stuff from Walmart the other day. It's just a couple of dollars, it's yellow, and it's made to melt ice really easily. Well, it works really well, so if you are like me and HATE scraping in the mornings, go get you some! It was amazing how the ice just melted, and when I went to scrape it off, it came off so easily, almost the consistency of a slushie haha. But for real, that stuff works!
Stay warm everyone!
Travis
Anyway, Spring semester has started, and I haven't been keeping up (surprise, right). So, a little bit about my classes...
English- MWF, 9:05-9:55...My teacher is once again a grad student, but she seems pretty cool. We're studying about Appalachian history and Memory. It doesn't seem like to hard of a class.
Math- MTWF, 12:20-1:10...Calculus hasn't started out as difficult as I thought it would be! I'm actually getting it lol. We once again don't have to do the book homework, but we are assigned homework through an online submission program, where I do like 5 problems online for points, so it makes us do some work.
French- MWF, 1:25-3:20...Yep! 2 hrs! I'm doing an intensive French class, which means it's two classes in one, and for two hours. I could either take French 211 this semester, then take 212 next semester, or take French 211/212 this semester, and be done with it. So, I chose the latter. My teacher is pretty cool, she's actually from Bordeaux, France. It seems like it'll be a pretty cool class.
Geology- TR, 9:40-10:55...It's actually basically Environmental Science. It's kinda boring, but oh well, the lab is really easy at least!
I'm looking forward to this weekend. It's a long weekend, for starters! Tonight, Amanda, Alex, and I are going to the Ice Bears game! I got a coupon for buy 2 tickets, get 1 free, so I thought, hey, something to do!
Guess that's about it for now. I got this great windshield wiper stuff from Walmart the other day. It's just a couple of dollars, it's yellow, and it's made to melt ice really easily. Well, it works really well, so if you are like me and HATE scraping in the mornings, go get you some! It was amazing how the ice just melted, and when I went to scrape it off, it came off so easily, almost the consistency of a slushie haha. But for real, that stuff works!
Stay warm everyone!
Travis
Sunday, January 4, 2009
End of break : (
Today is the last actual "weekend" day of break for me. I still have tomorrow and Tuesday, though. I have had a rough night though. I helped Alex rearrange his room last night, which wasn't too bad. But there was soooo much dust behind where his bed and where his chests were. And, not even thinking about it messing up my allergies, I just started vacuming it up! So, I didn't really end up sleeping well last night. I kept waking up every thirty minutes or so I suppose. I guess it was where I couldn't really breathe well, so I would wake up and be miserable and blow my nose, then go back to sleep. I didn't go to church this morning, because I was too tired to even get out of bed. And I'm not feeling too much better today so far.
On the flip side, Amanda comes home tomorrow, so I will hopefully be in better spirits then. I am running down my laptop battery, so that's all for now I guess.
Later y'all,
Travis
On the flip side, Amanda comes home tomorrow, so I will hopefully be in better spirits then. I am running down my laptop battery, so that's all for now I guess.
Later y'all,
Travis
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