JoeMamaVFCC's Xanga

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:10:09 GMT

Lisa: When Bob broadcast that message, his voice was higher than normal. And what makes your voice high?
Bart: Tight, binding underwear?
Lisa: Helium!

All the precious memories and the friends I've made along the way.

And the journey is still far from over.

What matters the most in life isn't the final destination, but the journey.

The finish line is just the beginning of a brand new race.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Fri, 05 May 2006 17:48:54 GMT

Homer: Stupid Family, won't even come to my rapture. I went to Lisa's school play which had serious pacing problems.

Last year I had a song for my graduation, which was Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson. Surprise, surprise, I did not break away that year, but thankfully so.

Now, as I prepare to break away as a VFCC student, there's another song that speaks to me:

Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand
Ending unplanned

I break tradition
Sometimes my tries are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes
But I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

The book is in front of me, the previous chapters are turned. Many, many good times and many, many bad times that have shaped me into the man I am now. I am ready to see what the rest of the story is. There is no ending planned, and it's time for me to release my own inhibitons and embrace everything God and life has in store for me.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Wed, 03 May 2006 01:46:06 GMT

Lisa: It's a lump of slush, look at it!
Ranger: I have a little girl just like you at home. That's where she stays. At Home.

Well, my final year is drawing to a close. Yes, this is indeed my final year, I am completely done. I will not be returning in the fall and I will no longer be a student at VFCC. This long chapter of my life is finally over, and I'm ready to move on to bigger and better things, but I will definitely not forget the friends I have made and I hope that they will continue on through to the end of the age and beyond.

Highlights of 2005-2006
Catching up with old friends and being able to spend time with them
Meeting unbelievably awesome new friends that I feel will last a lifetime
Attending the NYWC in Pittsburgh in October (me and Carrie trying to find something to drink at 11:00 pm, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, 'He touched us,' our 'true worship experience,' and much more)
Celebrating my 25th birthday in November with Aubrey, Kevin, James, Drew, Jon, and John (who paid for my food, which is something I will never forget)
Being introduced to Halo2 and being almost an addict in the Fall Semester (thank you very much Eugene & Francis!)
Being a part of SGA for the sixth year as the Senior Class Activities Coordinator with such awesome people to work with (Joe Pickens, Loryn Piscitelli, Jenn Morrison & Prof. Brubaker)
Having the unbelievable opportunity to teach Old Testament for two weeks, which showed me how much faith Prof. Brubaker has in me
Spring Banquet with two unbelievably beautiful dates
Final chapel...EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And many, many more good times.

To my friends here: Thank you for an unbelievable six years of friendship, and I hope that this friendship will continue on and on.

Good times, good times.

Shalom.

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 04:48:11 GMT

Homer: (yawns) Marge....I can't feel my legs! I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS!!!
Marge: Homer! Homer those legs belong to the man behind you.

I'm so ready to get out of here. I'm so ready to start the new chapter of my life, away from two-faced people who stand you up on your last week of being at VFCC when other true friends wanted to hang out with you, but you made plans previously with others, and they in turn ditch you for something better.

I totally regret what I said to certain people now. I regret that to the utmost degree.

My heart is breaking, my soul is dying. And I'm alone. Standed, desolate, alone.

Just like always.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 23:32:46 GMT

Marge: You should have left for work an hour ago!
Homer: They said if I come in late again I'm fired. I can't take that chance!

Well, it's time for some blunt honesty.

Honestly, I'm not superman. I'm not this ultra-special person who doesn't experience pain or hurt, disappointment or discouragement. Yet it seems like that's how everyone views me. "He's Joe James, he doesn't have any problems..." No, I do have problems - lots of them - but I just hide them behind my plastic smile by day so I can cry them away at night as I go to sleep alone.

I try to be real, I try to be honest, but in the end I'm only a hypocrite. I want others to be real and honest with me yet I cannot be the same with them. And why is that? Because of the perception people have of me. I fear, I cry, I doubt, I hurt, I'm disappointed, and I get discouraged. Yet every day I just feel so alone.

God renews me, and God is the only thing I ever need. Yet it's good to have communication and uplifting words from people now and again. Just makes you feel like you're really making a difference in someone's life, instead of just blowing smoke.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 04:43:36 GMT

Lisa: Do you really think we can win playing "Stars and Stripes Forever?" It's so beginner band, and we're advanced beginner band.
Ralph: This is band?

A good teacher explains
A superior teacher demonstrates
But a truly great teacher inspires.

I want to be a teacher so I can inspire others to greatness. I feel there is no higher calling than to release a person's inner strength.

What I do with the rest of my life will be done in the spirit of the statement listed above. I desire to not be a good teacher, not even a superior teacher, but a great teacher.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 14:48:03 GMT

Shelby: No time to check it out now, we've got Lemonade to sell!
Milhouse #2: Haha, radical.
Bart: They're getting rich of us!
Milhouse: And that kid with the backpack said "radical"! I say "radical"! That's my thing that I say!

Banquets:
#5: Sophomore Year at the Radisson in King of Prussia
#4: First Senior Year at the Castle
#3: Third Senior Year at the Eden Resort in Lancaster
#2: Second Senior Year in Lancaster
#1: Junior Year at The Boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Six years: $60,000
Five banquets: $200
Six beautiful dates & memories that will last a lifetime: Priceless

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Sat, 08 Apr 2006 02:46:57 GMT

Homer: 1895, forget it! We'd be too late to save Lincoln and too early to save Kennedy.
Moe: You can save McKinley.
Homer: It's not a time machine, Moe!

Couple more days till I leave...much and much to do!

Monday, April 03, 2006

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:49:08 GMT

Homer: Oh you're curing me with accupuncture.
Doctor: No a porcupine snuck in while you were asleep.

I'm surrounded by liars everywhere I turn
I'm surrounded by imposters everywhere I turn
I'm surrounded by identity crisis everywhere I turn
am i the only one to notice
I can't be the only one who's learned

I don't want to be anything other than what I've been tryin to be lately
All I have to do is think of me and I've peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I gotta do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:34:53 GMT

Skinner: Now, I'd like to ask each child to pair up with a buddy so no one gets lost.
Bart: Come to think of it I haven't seen Uter since the last field trip.
Skinner: Uter. I don't remember any Uter. Silly name, Uter.

The President, Faculty and Trustees of Valley Forge Christian College in the exercise of powers granted by the Commonwealth do hereby confer upon

Joseph Michael James

the degree of

Bachelor of Arts

with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities pertaining thereunto. GIven at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, this sixth day of May in the year of our Lord, two thousand and five.

James F. Barco (Registrar)
Philip McLeod (Vice President of Academic Affairs)
Carl Colletti (Chariman, Board of Trustees)
Dr. Donald Meyer (President)

That's right...I finally picked up my diploma. A copy is on my door of my dorm. I think that's hilarious.