Life update

So here’s the rundown on life since my last post on life:

• I have been getting sick over the course of this week. Each day was worse than the one before it. I kept thinking that I could fight through it without going to the doctor. Well, by Friday (today), I couldn’t take it anymore. I was miserable. So I went to the doctor. And guess what I had? Just like the rest of America, I have the flu. No wonder my body couldn’t get rid of it. So now I’m on a couple prescriptions, not just the over-the-counter cover-the-symptoms stuff.
• I am now a fan of Rock Band. When Guitar Hero first came out, I hated it. I thought it was a waste of time, and to some extent, I still have that opinion. But…when they brought in the drums, I was sold! I have spent a couple nights this week playing Rock Band with Andy and I am loving it. I really don’t like playing the guitar on the game, but I love playing the drums on it. Even weirder is that out of the instruments on the game, I am worst at the guitar. What does that say about me?!?! I think it says that deep down, way deep down, in the depths of my heart, I truly want to be a drummer. Why? I can’t explain it. That’s just how it is. So, thank you, Rock Band. Thank you.
• Tyrome came to hang out on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday. That was a good time. Unfortunately, I was already somewhat sick, so I wasn’t up for doing a whole lot, but we had fun nonetheless. We’re hoping to get together again and spend time doing some musical writing. (Sorry Tyrome if you get the flu!)
• Micah and I went to Greenville on Thursday to hang out and such. Our main objective of the trip was to get tuxedo measurements for our groomsmen tuxes for Paul’s wedding. Thankfully, I am not in the “portly” size jackets, but that’s not saying much. It was a good reminder that I need to get more serious about my physical condition. Unfortunately, I have been through a stomach virus and now the flu over the past two weeks. So it’s been quite hard to eat regularly or exercise much at all. After getting fitted, we went to the Haywood Mall for lunch. While there, I picked up Tri-ominoes at a board games store. This was a favorite game of mine as a kid, but I think the old game was thrown away recently because it wasn’t very usable anymore. I can’t wait to get some people together and play it again! I hope I like it as much as I did years ago!
• Later on Thursday, I made one of the best purchases of 2008 (except for the engagement ring, of course)! In Huntersville, NC, I found a 1981 Fender Rhodes Mark II seventy-three key stage piano! I found it through craigslist. I am so excited about it!!! It is the exact model I was looking for. I drove up Thursday night (with Andy along for the journey) to pick it up. It is in great condition. The guy who owned it really took time to clean it up and restore it a lot. It still has some work that needs to be done to make it play a bit better, but overall, it is phenomenal! Once I can get a camera, I’ll take some pictures and upload them on here. Paul Meany, I hope to be one day at least your shadow musically!
• My online course has been going well so far. It’s not an incredible amount of work. Each week, I have short essays and responses to other people’s essays to post on the course’s online message board. Each week has a considerable amount of reading, but that’s the graduate school life (even online…)
• This week in my course, we had to read through Genesis and Exodus along with the corresponding sections in two OT survey/theology books. Through my reading this week, one thing I took with me this week was something I had never really thought of before. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, he declared himself as “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Ex. 6:3). I never really took time to theorize what that declaration would have meant to Moses. How would that have fit into his perception of reality? What thoughts would Moses think of when hearing that? Moses most likely wouldn’t have had any written accounts of Hebraic history thus far. There was no “Genesis” to read and stories to remember. However, even though he spent much of his life growing up as any other Egyptian in Pharaoh’s courts, Moses also spent time being raised by his Hebrew mother. It is probably a safe assumption that he heard the oral traditions of the patriarchs many times. He heard the stories of God’s protection of Abraham. He heard the countless stories of how Abraham proved himself to be a man of faith by giving up Isaac. He must have heard how God continually protected Abraham. This was a mighty God. Maybe Moses’ reaction of hiding his face was out of fear or reverence of such a mighty God who protects. On the other hand, maybe Moses remembered the stories of Abraham’s great and mighty faith in offering up Isaac, and Moses, feeling so inferior to be in communication with that same God who talked to Abraham, hid his face. Who knows. Only thoughts on what Moses’ thoughts might have been in that moment.
• Kindel’s flight comes in Saturday night! I can’t wait! It hasn’t been fun not being able to have at least ANY form of communication the whole time she’s been overseas. I’m sure she’ll have tons of great stories to tell…at least after the jet lag wears off.
• So that leaves me here. It’s Friday night. I’m in my house. I’m coughing. My throat and vocal cords feel like they went through a paper shredder. I’m doped up on a few different meds. I hope this blog makes sense. I’m going to bed soon.

~ by Cody Thomas on 29 February 2008.