T'is True T'is True

Well well well, what they say it true. On the fourth of December I asked my girlfriend to be my wife, and wouldn't you know it she said yes! I was and am totally pumped! We're certainly not wasting any time on the planning either. We've already started looking at reception locations and her mother is talking about flower arrangements. Unbelievable.

WOW! I will tell you something else, all of this stuff is stinking expensive. I cannot believe how much all of this stuff is going to cost. I'm already broke just from the RING!!! But it will be well worth it in the end. I love her and she loves me so there ya go.

And here we are 3 days form Christmas and I am excited but to my lovely fiance, you will understand that there won't be much under the tree from me, but if that gets you down just look at your finger.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Another Semester Gone...

Well everyone, I probably won't be posting again for a while. Shocked and faithful reader says: But Dan! You are always so faithful to put up new, interesting and entertaining blogs so often! Mom says: Oh well, you'll be home. And Mom is right! Today I have two exams, pardon me for a moment... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Alright, I'm ok. Tomorrow however, I am homeward bound and it is about time! I cannot wait to see my family and my girlfriend and my dog! It will be nice just to be able to spend some time in good ol' Burtt's Corner.

Well I better jet, my first exam is at 8:00. Merry Christmas everyone and in case I don't blog until then, Happy New Year!

Read Luke 2

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

When I say that I really do mean it. If you have ever read my blog before or know me at all, you know I love Christmas. I love the music, I love the decorations, I love giving people things and I don't mind getting a few nice gifts either. I love to talk about the birth of Jesus Christ too, and all the reasons he came to earth.

But right now the phrase, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" can't help but have at least a hint of sarcasm for the next two weeks. You see it's what the British call "crunch time" and consequently us too since we speak the same language. I have more papers to write and assignments to do and exams to study for than I don't know what. Stress city!

But you know what? Right or wrong it will all be done in just a few weeks. Then I will be able to relax for a while and prep to do it all again. Oh the bliss, and good thing about all the stress now is... well... I BET I KNOW MORE ABOUT HOWARD E. COOKE THAN YOU DO!!!

yeah well...

The REAL Drummer! Ha Ha Ha! 

The Band 

The Dynamic Duo! Me and my Bro. 

Dave's Christmas Card 

Decorating the Float! 

Setting the Sound 

This is the first Pic of the parade. More to come... 

The Santa Claus Parade!

Well we can all remember when we were little kids how we used to long for the Santa Claus Parade. It was always something to look forward to. There were usually marching bands, sometimes rock bands, and lots of decorative floats passing out candy. It didn't bother you that you couldn't feel your feet anymore as long as you passed your letter to Santa to one of the mail carriers and then you got to see Santa himself!

Well now I am 20 years old and I still love the Santa Claus Parade and yesterday I had the opportunity to be IN it. I must confess that organizing everything and getting stuff ready to go was not as so joyous, especially the organization part. This however had no baring on my mood yesterday. You see, for the past few years I have wanted Maritime Christian College to put a live band on a float, but the trouble is that it has rained every year that Charlottetown has hosted a parade... (cue movie trailer voice) until... This winter... (suspense builds) We finally got to do it. It was awesome and I was totally pumped. We got the float rigged for sound and the students of MCC decorated it and made it look great.

I had an absolute blast and I could not have been more pleased with how everything went. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get some but in the mean-time you can check out at least one picture and a VIDEO on MCC's website @ http://www.maritimechristiancollege.pe.ca then click on student life. Thanks so much to everyone that helped. If nothing else, you made my day!

Hey everyone, this is a picture of me from the last time I was in New York. My photographer Allyson took it for me. I forgot to put my mask on so don't tell anyone who I really am ok? 

Is That Helpful?

I guess I haven't blogged in a while eh? Sorry about that, I have been over my head in work for the past month or so and I just haven't had time. Not that I really do right now but hey, what can you do? Right now, I feel like I am up a creek without a BOAT, but in a few weeks right or wrong it will all be done and Christmas will be here. So things are looking up.

The point of this blog is however is to emphasize the point of being helpful. This has kind of been my slogan of the month so far. You see, when certain situations come that are not enjoyable or when conflicts arise, it is overly tempting to let blunt sarcasm take over but this is not helpful. The right way to handle such matters is to be patient, tactful and make sure that the things you say and do are helpful to the situation and not hurtful. This is exceedingly difficult to exercise and I am well aware that no matter how much care and tact are placed in your words, sometimes the truth hurts. We cannot, however, take glory in the hurt of others. Instead we must do our best to be helpful and build them up in such a way that we would want for ourselves.

So the next time you find yourself frustrated with life or another person or whatever, before you act ask yourself this question: Is that helpful?

Matthew 5:7
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. "

James 1:19-20
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."

Testing the Mur-Man

Wow, am I technologically inclined or what!? I figured out how to post a picture all by myself. Man I'm smart... Anyways, that's me on the right and that's my good friend Murray on the left. He was my youth minister when I was in middle school and high school and the recruiter of MCC (where I attend college) for my first two years. Anyways he moved away this year and I really miss him a lot. He is an awesome guy who has impacted my life. If it wasn't for the way God used this guy in my life I probably would not be at Maritime Christian College training for ministry.

Anyways, I thought I should write something rather than just leave an ambiguous picture. Maybe by next time I will be able to put them both in the same blog...

The Amazing Spider-Dan alongside of the Mur-Man 

INTERNET AT LAST!! Thanks Dave (Part 2)

Well well well. I think this is really it. Internet at my own computer for more than just 2 seconds. My buddy Dave has done it again and this time I think it's going to stick!

I just got back from a 5 day weekend and I am pretty tired. It was really nice to get home and see my family and my dog and my girlfriend's family and my church family and my beloved youth group from BC. It was great. I ate some good meals, I went bowling and I saw Latter 49 which is an excellent movie. Good times.

Now that I am back to good ol P'en Yi (PEI) I have started putting my Christmas decorations up and reading and doing homework like a mad man. But it's all good. It has snowed a few times over the past few days which I am really pumped about. I love the snow.

Well it appears that writing on my blog is not going to get my Romans questions done... stink! Gotta jet

Have a BIG day!

To Be + Or Not To Be +... That Is The Question

You always have a choice... Always. No matter what happens to you in life you must decide what you will do and how you will be. You see no one can make you do anything, no one. Your friends cannot make you do anything, the Devil cannot make you do anything, God... Well God can do anything he wants but he will not make you do anything. The only person that can control you is you and you are the only person you can control. You will never be able to control your circumstances and you will never be able to control how people treat you but you always have a choice.

The choice in question is to be positive or negative... and the answer is this: Be positive! I don't care how grim the situation looks there is always something positive that can be found. Now before you get upset and become "negative" and start throwing inanimate objects at your screen hear this. It is not always easy. In fact it can be painstakingly hard. It is always easier to be negative, I mean just have a look around... Our world is a mess. It's hard to be positive but well worth it in the end.

Don't be negative! Negative people just bring you down... I mean I was at the beach this one time and this guy was out in the water and he was like, "I CAN'T SWIM! I CAN'T SWIM!" and I was like, "Well geez man, I can't play the guitar but I don't go on about it"... ahem. Anyways, work hard and look for the good. If you look hard enough you'll find it.

Man I sure did this (...) a lot eh?

Not to be negative... yeah

MMHMM

Well the new Relient K album came out yesterday and just like their previous two albums I was the first person on PEI to own one. The name of the album is MMHMM and it is awesome. I would definitely recommend that you pick this one up.

In other exciting news I have been swamped up to my neck with homework lately. Assignments, papers and midterms have been my life over the past week or so. It's all good though.

Finally, I am totally EXCITED for Christmas! I have already had the music out since thanksgiving. I know, I'm just like a little kid but I love it. I can't wait for snow, and lights, and candy canes, and Chisrtmas carols on the radio. People just have such a great spirit about them around Christmas time and I don't mind if it comes early.

MMHMMerry Christmas!

Ever Speak Too Soon?

Well well well. Yesterday I declared to the world, or at least the 3 people who read my blog, that at last my internet is now up and running... and indeed it was. So I checked my email, played on MSN, did my critical updates and then updated my virus scanner which makes you restart you're computer. Restarting my computer is the reason I am blogging from my brother's PC and not my notebook. Apparently I was never supposed to shut down again because when I restarted I not only lost my internet connection but even my connection to my brother's PC.

Yeah... so here I am back in frustration city. 3 2 1... 1 2 3... What the heck is bothering me? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Thump!

INTERNET AT LAST!! Thanks Dave

Well, I must say that David Murray Marshall is my hero of the day. I have been trying to get my internet working for like eight weeks and finally today Dave did it. He got it working. Man the things I will be able to do now! Check my email on my own computer, do research on my own computer, surf the web on my own computer, BLOG on my own computer.

Moving forward in life, Exalt, the Fall youth conference, was a huge success this past weekend. The speaker was challenging and the worship went well. The drama was funny but the highlight for me was actually who I billeted. This weekend my Dad was one of the leaders from Burtt's Corner as over the past year or so he has been working with the youth group. This is a newly discovered gift for my Dad and man is he good. All weekend I was so impressed. When we had youth leader meetings he was vocal and insightful. The youth seemed to be drawn to him and really enjoy him. Then during the time where we broke off into our youth groups he was so effective and I was and am sooooooo proud of him. All though the weekend I just wanted to jump up and yell, "Yeah, that's my Dad!" He's the best.

Anyways that's all for now so thanks Dad and thanks Dave

The No Internet Blues in the Key of F# Minor

Ok, for you (the faithful reader of my blog) it is likely frustrating to check out The Amazing Spider-Dan day after day and only find a blog here and there. I assure you, I feel your pain. Ever since I moved back to the Island I have not been able to get my internet working. I share an apartment with my brother and he has internet. We have a router and it is properly hooked up, I know this because I can find his computer with my own but my computer can't seem to find the stinking internet!

On a higher note (lets say G) I had a really good Thanksgiving weekend. I am certainly very blessed and God has been with me over the year. My life is definitely not perfect and there some things that are going on in it that I do not like, but I will always keep in mind that God is still God and he is in control. If I was in control, things would be worse... for sure. Plus this weekend I got to see my family and my church family and my beloved youth group the X. Good times.

In conclusion, give thanks and fix my internet.

Good Weekend

Well well well. This weekend I went to Halifax and I gotta say, it was a lot of fun. I got to travel with a few friends as far as Salsbury and it was a blast. I convinced a naive (and quite blonde) friend of mine that I thought traveling was stupid just to bust her chops and she got totally wound. What a riot. Then Another friend of mine picked me up there and away to Hali we went. Good drive.

So when I got there my sweet-heart had made home-made pizza for us. We had a great evening! The next day (Saturday) I did a lot of homework but THEN for lunch my lady-friend made strombolis! They were awesome. Then later that night we went to see Spider-Man 2 in the IMAX (my fifth time in theatres) and I love that movie. Soooooo good.

So Sunday we went to Church at Metro Wesleyan and that was really good. Then we went to a QMJHL hockey game!! The Halifax Mooseheads Vs. The PEI Rocket and the Rocket won 7-1. I was totally pumped. In fact, I was that obnoxious fan of the visiting team. You know, that one that is at every game that YOUR team loses and you wonder what the crap he's even doing there. He's really loud and you just want to kill him... yeah that was me, and if you are from Halifax and are a Mooseheads fan and even better if you were at that game I would just like to say HA HA!

Anyway great weekend!

Sick of It!

Well well well, I am sick of it. Of what you ask? Or even if you didn't. I am sick of being sick. My throat is sore, my head is full, and my nose is raw. It never seems to take to long to get sick of that stuff seeing as it messes up my sleep and limits my effectiveness throughout daily activities. Stink!

And another thing, I am sick of how dirty my apartment gets. I finally had to go after my storage closet and clean up all the dirty Kleenex overflowing from the garbage in the bathroom. But my room is still a mess, and the living room and kitchen aren't that clean either.

And I'll tell you something else! I am sick of how I've been letting my work slip. I still always get it done but I haven't got the jump on things that I wanted... yeah. Sick of it.

Anyways, I am sure that you're sick of my endless babbling here so I guess that's enough. On a brighter note I am going to Halifax this weekend to see my chicky-poo and next week I am going home to good ol BC (Burtt's Corner) for Thanksgiving.

YEE HAWWWWwww (cough, hack, sneeze, sigh)

A Few Things...

Yeah, so I haven't blogged in a while which brings me to my first thing. I still have no internet of my own. Ever since I moved back to P'en Yi (PEI) I have had to use my brother's computer any time I've needed the internet because for some reason our stupid router won't let my computer find his internet. Frustrating to say the least, especially sense I probably won't have access until after Thanksgiving.

Next thing, my last entry pertained to hating pants. Since then we have had nothing but beautiful weather! Thus I am usually wearing shorts and loven it!

Next thing... I can't remember what I was going to write here soooooooooooooo stay tuned for next time and read the cool things I write... if there are any cool things.

Don't Your Hate Pants?

Welly welly welly welly well, today was the first day of fall. Not hard to tell as fall has been in the air for quite some time now, and I would just like to say don't you hate pants? I have been trying to wear shorts and sandals everyday that I could because I would wear them all year if I could, but today was just too freaking cold. I mean don't get me wrong, I love winter. Hockey will be starting soon and I am pumped for it, but seriously you guys I dug out the shorts this year in FEBUARY!

I guess there is no sense in complaining about it. It is inevitable that the seasons will change and the two days of heat we got this summer quickly turn in fall or autum if you will. I'm just sad to see the shorts be put away for the winter. Oh well, life's rough wear a helmet... And I will! A hockey helmet at that!

Happy Birthday Jules!

Happy Birthday Mr. President

Well well well. Today is my 20th birthday, and I gotta say it was a great day... I didn't really mean for that to all rhyme but it kind of worked good that time... Hey I did it again... ugg. Anyways I wanted to thank everyone who either called or visited me or sent me an e-mail or got me a card or present... thanks. To me birthdays aren't really that big a deal but a few people went out of there way make it a big deal and it was really nice.

I am also taking the opportunity of this blog to share with all of you that I am now the president of the student association at Maritime Christian College. With the responsibilities the role entails I have also acquired the name Mr. President from Ben and Dave... What a bunch of dummies. Anyways, I basically just help coordinate events and act as the liaison between staff and students. Lily, a liaison is someone acts as the line of communication between two groups.

Well folks its almost 10:00 ON A SCHOOL NIGHT! So I need to get to bed... Gym in the morning... ugg

Good night

New Glass Company

Greetings and Salutations all. The title above is a not so clever play on words for the Town of New Glasgow... Get it? Nevermind. So why even make such a stupid joke you ask? Well... That's good point... I never thought of it that way. Well, here is my reasoning just the same. This Sunday I start my new Job as the part-time Youth Minister at the New Glasgow Church of Christ. This means I will have to leave my position as a volunteer at the Sherwood Church of Christ as well as the beloved youth there who I will miss. At the same time this is an exciting opportunity for me to start something new again. It is a good chance for me to step outside my comfort zone again begin something fresh.

In other exciting news, I went to the gym today for the 2nd day this week (patting myself on the back). I set my my alarm for 6:02 (who does that?) and then I hit snooze 3 times before dragging myself out of bed. The trouble is this, I am still as sore as a frig from going 2 days ago so this mornings workout kind of hurt. I guess that's why they say, "No Pain. No Gain!" I always say, "No Pain... Good." But nobody asked me so that's the way we've got it.

Anyways I should go do some homework... Hey, what's the deal with homework? Your not working on your home! hahahaha...ha...Ahem...cough. Ok, I better go.

Romans 16:19 SAYS! What?

Well school is upon me again and MCC and that means all of my spare time is consumed with reading, which isn't entirely bad because I enjoy reading but NOT THIS MUCH. Anyways I had my first Romans class today and it was really good but man, it's a lot of work. First of all I got homework even before the stupid class started which took me 6 HOURS to do! I'm not kiddin ya. Then the class is 3 hours long every Monday afternoon from 2:00 till 5:00 and in one class we cover like 6 or 7 verses. But it's all good because it is interesting.

Anyways I guess I should go do some more reading... Ugh. By the way Romans 16:19-20 says, "Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." But I am sure I will be able to tell you all the ins and outs about it by December... or maybe not... yeah.

It's All Gone...

So welcome to my blog. I've wanted to journal for a long time but I am never disciplined enough to do it, so hopefully this thing will encourage me to stick to it! This is not here to broadcast my life but to give you a closer look into web-head of Dan. Mostly its for my own entertainment, but I hope you like it!

Ok then Danno, why is the title of blog "It's all gone"? Good question! You see, I have really long hair. That is to say I had really long hair, but yesterday I cut more than 10 inches off. So it looks and feels so wired! Oh well, change is good. Anyway that's enough excitement for now. I bet you can hardly stand it.

Have a Big day!

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Dan