Well, since the Brotherhood has gotten lazy, I'm now currently ruling the board. Which, in a way, sort of makes it like an online journal of my fancy little pranks. That's kind of lame.
I wish the other brothers would post, but, until they do, I'm going to take some time to ramble on some inherently ineffectual thoughts.
I've got this friend back home, named Laura Menzel. And she is very very awesome. So awesome in fact, that while I'm only blogging about her now, she deserves the actual merit of having an essay, or perhaps a book, written about her awesomeness. But here goes.
Laura is awesome because:
-she can kick it being a band geek and still be "awesome!"
-she can rock it being a theater kid and still be "awesome!"
-she's got one of the more spectacular smiles i've seen in my life
-she's a full fledged member of the Black Jack Motorcycle Club
-she has a stunning 8 by 10 portrait of me in her room, which, seriously, just makes any girl awesome
-she can rope me into dropping my weekend plans and driving 180 miles out of my way just to visit with her for an hour
-she has every intention to come to UNCG next year and will likely do what every UNCG student does: not figure out what she wants to major in until her senior year
-she's making plans to come to Ja Jam May 3rd 12 noon - 6pm at UNCG, which everyone should be doing

thanks Laura. and thanks blog, for allowing my shameless plug. for those of you who don't know (well, ok, all three of you already know), Twice Remembered is playing Ja Jam, as is...this guy, named...(read my signature, dummyhead)

Happy birthday mom! I'm sorry about you not feeling well. We'll totally paint the town some shade of red on some other date yet to be determined.
Man, other than not getting to see my mom on her 39th birthday, today was so awesome. It was like, almost "return of awesome characters from the past day". Like, Ryan from high school was like, "hey, i'm not a kid with a babyface anymore, i'm totally metal and brutal looking with my goatee."
But today was also not awesome, cause mostly it was "butts hangin' out of shorts day". Cause seriously. These sluts need to figure it out. I mean, why are they gonna let their butts hang out? Honestly...as much of a guy as I am...I much prefer leaving something to the imagination. I mean...it's all well and good if you want your butt to hang out, provided it's in the comfort of your own room or something, where you know, your jock boyfriend can ogle your temporarily firm and fit behind, and you won't cheapen the integrity of the 5 intentionally moral guys out there. Yeah.
Oh, but, today was also awesome cause it was official "I can't get a tan day". This included...Lindsey not getting a tan...as well as several other people not getting tans! Included in some people's rituals were...hiding in the shade...covering up in blankets...putting on sunscreen...and of course...sitting around the house playing video games!
As far as I was concerned...I rocked class...BOTH OF THEM! Which means I wasn't a slacker like I was Monday. Connie bought me food. And I completely devoured that junk cause I was so hungry. And I did my workout today, which included brutalizing the bench, totally terrorizing the tricep dips, and uh...you know, probably gettin' all buff with the other stuff I did as well.

-my results from the " What Kind of Girlfriend Are You?" test-


*mercurial/loving/tomboyish* The Perfect Girlfriend
-Perfect- You're the perfect girlfriend. Which means you're rare or that you cheated :P You're the kind of chick that can hang out with your boyfriend's friends and be silly. You don't care about presents or about going to fancy placed. Hell, just hang out. You're just happy being around your boyfriend.

so that's just for your amusement - and all you ladies - hey, i would be the PERFECT girlfriend...

as always, keepin it real... REAL real...

I just want to take this time out to thank all the people that are involved in our big project, the industrious volunteers helping to make Brother-Fest 2003 a reality. We all appreciate your hard work. Planning will be harrowing for the next few weeks but we here at Brotherhood headquarters feel that with patience and determination, our goals will be met. I especially want to thank all the phone operators who have been recording pledges, and of course, all our Honorary Brothers and Brotherettes for your keen sense of wit and observational humor.

I dunno...I'm pretty fake. Or so some people have claimed. But, I guess my temperance in being able to deal with people talking about me behind my back serves me some credit. I have that strength, that realness, to deal with people's fakeness. So, yeah, true dat indeed.
I will say that the Brotherhood for me has been all about trying to reclaim that Goonies-esque quality that I hold so dear in friendships. I've had my share of obvious fallouts with various people at times, but I've always felt a sense of encouragement about having a crew that wasn't afraid to be supportive at least most of the time. And while it's true that friends let you down, there are limits of tolerance in that realm which can be breached. Boom bada.
Hmm...of course...as stated moments ago, some people may argue that the things I say are stupid and fake...who knows...they're probably right, in a self-justified, obligatorily condemning sense. I don't know. But why do I need to flex? You know I got "'em".

someone asked me once, "what do you have to do to be in the brotherhood...?"

i know there were never any rules posted or sign up sheets issued - but it's a simple concept that, unfortunately, seems complicated. the brotherhood is, and always has been, about keeping it real - no matter what, good or bad. the brotherhood was never really started by any one or number of people - it simply came into being from the union of likeminded people. since it's inception til the present, the brotherhood has gained many members, and also lost a couple too. one thing to remember though, this isn't a democracy, this isn't a monarchy. no one rules anyone in the brotherhood - we are all equal. this makes people really wonder how someone can be in or out of the brotherhood - let me clearify.

being in the brotherhood does not really give you any special priveledges or anything besides the knowledge that you have a group of people who care about you no matter what is up with you. this is basically the same as being out of the brotherhood - there is no penalty for not being in the brotherhood besides the knowledge that you aren't keepin it real. we do not discriminate by race or gender here, there is and always has been only the one requirement. if you keep it real, and it is widely known that you keep it real, and you wanna be involved with a buncha people who are also keepin it real (as a way of life, not as a hobby) then all you have to do is say the word and you will be accepted with open arms. there is no vote, no committee - just acceptance of your realness.

on the other hand, the few who have left the brotherhood have always been backsliders (for lack of a better term). these people have not necessarily done anything horrible, but they did, at some point, stop keepin it real. be it putting their realness on the backburner for a time, or involving themselves with people of the non realness - something happened. but again, nothing was, or will be done by the brotherhood to "kick out" people - because nothing has to be done. if someone's lack of realness is evident and addressed, but has no resolution - then the person basically leaves the brotherhood by their own actions. it is to note that readmittance is always an option - it just requires someone to reach deep down and regain the realness they once held dear. if that is done, then as easily as they joined the first time, they will be embraced again by the body of the brotherhood.

we are not elitest - we are just real. we have no hierarchy, and we don't discriminate. though we have no official female "honorary brothers" at this time - it doesn't mean that there haven't been, nor that there won't be in the future. so if you want to be in tune with people who want to keep it real - then we welcome you. if it is not your thing - we won't hate. but as pastor whit always says "sometimes you just need to know who's in the boat with you..." hope this has clearified some things for everyone. and remember - lying, backstabbing, posing... a brother craves not these things...

as always, keepin it real... REAL real...

Man, I'm bored. I sure miss everyone.
I'm thinking about how my saturday nights go. They usually go well. This particular one is kind of boring, but I did watch Minority Report and I also rewrote an old Dance, Marlon, Dance song-I guess just to prove that my old rock and roll song stuff wasn't totally trash. Anyway. In the boro. Thinking about working this summer. Hoping I can just listen to God and know that He's gonna do great things with me. I sure hope so, because I'm far incapable of great things by myself.
Anyway. Certain people are very much missed, including a tall girl whose walks and talks with me brighten my day. And including my roommates, who, as much as they hole themselves up in their rooms (just like I do) when here, are, when here, a comfort, cause I know I've got the freedom to walk in and talk to any of them at any time. I miss them all terribly.

Hey wait.
It's kind of weird that I'm writing about you guys as the 3rd person, and not the 2nd, since 4 out of 6 of you live here with me, and the other two hang out enough, and, I mean, come on, who else reads this "blaaaaaaaawg" thing anyway?

PS - Mikey, to be honest, it's just not the same standing in front of your mirror flexing unless you're there to call me out on it.

you ever just feel like you wanna be a better person? yeah, i do too. oh wait - you said no? oh, that sucks, hehe. well, it's just me then. i just had that feeling when i got up this morning. it is kinda sad cause i think i like today more than i like yesterday. i mean, i know it's kinda wet and stuff outside, but it's warm, but cool - and as always, my arch nemesis (the sun) is nowhere to be found. so i have won another victory! speaking of victories...

spring break is coming up and we are taking a brotherhood trip to christina's beach house near wilmington. this is pretty exciting cause it's the beach. i hope there is something to do. well, i mean, we will be with friends so that'll be cool. i have madd work to do over the break which kinda erks me, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do, eh? so we shall see how it goes and hopefully christina won't be kicking us outta the beach house early. but heck, if that happens - then we will just be comin back to see our greensboro peeps. i mean, cause what is a break for if you don't get to spend it with the people who love having you around? so, if anyone actually reads this - hit me up and we'll make spring break plans. it will be great! i love people! i really do...

as always, keepin it real... REAL real...

"Girl where's your head, full of lead, can't you see what you're doing to me? Wipe that disgrace off your face look and see what you've done to me." Ahh...Reggie. You're so funny...but...
I certainly don't feel like that. Namely because a) girls are awesome and b) between me and a girl, if anything does anything blockheaded, it's gonna be me 99 times out of 99. Oh yeah, and c) girls are tricky sometimes, but their coolness far outweighs their slight cattiness.
So, girls...I like Reggie and the Full Effect cause they are awesome and funny. And the guy from Coalesce does guest vocals.
But seriously. This is just another post in lame attempt to spice up the Brotherhood. I want to be really real by stating again that girls are awesome.
I know I posted a near identical message probably some two months ago...well, it was only identical in the fact that it was about how I like girls.

I like girls.


And..................................................SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am heart broken... i should wish Christina never to say anything like that again. i think it almost unmentionable for her to even DARE say, much less think, that what she has to say doesn't matter. as it is well known, all of us have an equal say in all things and if you think something you should always feel free to speak your mind - how else would we keep it real? on the same note, that brings me to content...

now, boring, depressiong, stupid, tedious... it doesn't matter. this is our forum for all of us to speak our minds and post what we feel led to post. if we do not post what we feel led to post then how could we look ourselves in the mirror and say that we truly "kept it real". and as christina so eloquently stated, that IS the very foundation of the brotherhood. but, the brotherhood isn't about escaping reality into a world where only good and humorous things happen - but rather, it is about knowing what is going on with each other, and to throw out a slightly honest view of the world we inhabit. now, if we are lucky, our literally 6 other people who read this will find something entertaining or enlightening, then maybe we have helped someone in a small way. but this wasn't created for nate to say odd stuff, or for john to be creative in a short way, or for kildoo to entertain the masses with his accounting knowledge, or for me to post about obscure or overly philisophical things... this site wasn't even created for danny to not post on. it's about sharing ideas, discussing things, encouraging or warning people through life experience - not fighting. the real truth is that everyone needs a glimpse into reality and it's always better to share yourself with the people that mean the most to you. here is that place to do just such a thing. so if you are in the brotherhood or not, i encourage you to always be yourself, no matter how good or awesome you are. and if you are reading this, we never promised a good time... just realness. God bless...

as always, keepin it real... REAL real...

Wow. I have a few things to say about the Brotherhood in general. I know that you might be thinking, "what does it matter what Christina has to say, she hasn't posted since January and she is a girl for goodness sake", but, in my defense, I AM an honorary member of the Brotherhood and, let's be honest, I strap on the balls even more often than some of the other members. That being said...We have been on quite the rollercoaster of posts in the past few months. I'm sure that everyone who takes the time out of their day to read this is probably expecting to be at least mildly entertained, and so they were when it was first created, but I think that we have fallen a bit short lately. December was a hard month, many of us were out of town for the Holiday busy doing the fam thing and such, which cut down our time to devote to posting. January everyone was trying to get back into the swing of things with the new semester and all, which is understandable since most of us are trying to graduate sonner or later. It was around this time that the blog started to go downhill. What little interest that has been put into the blog has lately consisted of: depressing thoughts of family friends and realationships, silly lists that are about as entertaining as one of those stupid IM quizes, a rediculous spat about when you should or shouldn't take a hint, suggestions of a date auction, expressions of frustration and and pity aimed at one person put out there for all to read, a battle about a bible verse, and just general pointless nonesense. Now, I'm not trying to say that the Brotherhood...Online has gone to crap, well, I guess I am, but it's more of a cry for help. It would just be really nice if we could stay away from the crappiness of the outside world when we come in here, that IS what we are all about, keeping it real. I don't think that fighting amongst ourselves and such is keeping it really real. So, I don't know what else to say beyond all my rambling, but I think that you got the idea. I'm just asking that we all just get along and remember what we are doing here...keeping it real - That's my story and I'm sticking to it! - Much love to all my Brothers...xo

so not arguing the end result of Jesus being the only way - i must disagree with my brother. in the afore mentioned verse, "beyond cure" is a good representation of our hearts. we ask for God to create in us something clean, and He can, and will - but being in our infinitely sinful lives we will always have a heart that cannot stay unblemmished or free from this sickness. Jesus is the great cleanser, or doctor - He can heal our hearts, or help them, and a change can take place but it will not make us sin free. a cure implies that we are recovered from our decietfulness and wickedness, which is not the case. if that were true, then when we stand before God, He would see our hearts and not Jesus.

Jesus can wipe away the ugliness of our sin, but it will always come back as long as we are in our earthly bodies. but we still need Jesus to constantly walk with us along the roads of our life as opposed to telling Jesus thanks for the one time thing and being on our merry way because our sin eats away at us during our day to day walk and we cannot live full and happy lives as long as we hide the sin in our heart. our sin is like a cancer to our heart - constantly corrupting something that was meant to be pure. Jesus can give us kemo therapy on a daily basis and get rid of the cancer - but it will always come back. all this is added up in the end and accounts for all of what Jesus covers with His love. that is why our hearts and all our good intentions aren't put before the Father, but yet Jesus is. so Jesus is the only way to appear before God truly spotless and sin free - but until that day comes, sin will always be with us, so we should constantly ask for Jesus' healing so that we can live more full and free lives - which is why i cry out for Jesus daily... unless you are like the weirdo preacher on campus that time who didn't sin anymore after accepting Christ... but i think we all know how real he was keepin it...

as always, trying to keep it real... REAL real...

alright, i am here to bear light.
well, sort of. i just wanted to report that the load i bear is light. so if'ns you all need to heap some troubles on me in the coming days, i'll share your burden with you. cause "believe it or not, i'm walking on air, i never thought i could feel so free". that's not a verse. well, it is. it's a song verse. but uh, well, we all got stuff going on, and spring break is coming, which means our profs and everyone else want to heap all sorts of pain on us. i pray we all won't have to be toiling in our burdens alone. bring it to a brother or sister. bring it to Jesus.

as always, keepin it real...almost real.

me again... with a simple question... well maybe not so simple:

question: why does it hurt so much to care about someone that you know cares about you, but they can't put themselves in your shoes, nor do they try?

answer?: Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (NIV)

God, guard our hearts from things that are not of You - amen
as always... keepin it real... REAL real...

so what i will never understand is when people get into a disagreement, or whatever, why do people let it fester instead of working out their problems? i mean, everyone needs a cooling down period for a little while, but is it not true that we are not supposed to let the sun go down on our anger? the way i see it, there is no problem to great where compassion, understanding, and a few hugs can't get through it. so with this, why must people refuse closure and demand to drag things out, not only upsetting people more, but in fact causing the heartache of non resolution to be drug out over the span of days or weeks?

the way i see it is like this... if i get into a spat with someone - there is no better time to resolve it then the present (barring 'cool down' time). to me the reason we are supposed to solve our issues before sundown is not only to keep contentment between people, but most importantly because we don't know what tomorrow holds. what happens if i get in a fight with my best friend then we run off from one another not talking, but later that night something befalls me and i am taken away from this earth without resolution - or visa versa? think about what that would do to someone holding a petty grudge. now i know you think that this is so far fetched it sounds stupid. well, point to fact, take chase. he was very angry with some of us days before he died. but finally we all sat down and talked it out (which is all that needed to be done in the first place). in a moment things were great and everyone was glad to be in each other's company. unfortunately later that night chase passed away. what would it be like if we had not made it a point to fix things that night? would i feel guilty or feel like chase died with anger in his heart?

so my point is simple... if you are mad at someone, have a disagreement, or just NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, then do it as soon as possible - because you never know when the last chance you will get to tell someone how much they mean to you...

as always, keepin it real... REAL real...