Zehn's deep, deep, dark, dark, deep dark pit.

On FB Y'all!

2011-02-02T20:09:00.002-07:00

*Yaaawn* Oh, hey, I have a blog. Uhh.....Go ahead and just check me out on Facebook, friends seen to the right of this post ----------->

Shoot me a Friendship request and a Message saying you met me here.

See you there!

Wisdom of the Ages.

2010-03-30T14:51:00.003-06:00

Jean-Jacques Rousseau on Voltaire's poem "Poem on the Lisbon Disaster, or: An Examination of that Axiom 'All Is Well'"

"All my complaints are . . . against your poem on the Lisbon disaster, because I expected from it evidence more worthy of the humanity which apparently inspired you to write it. You reproach Alexander Pope and Leibnitz with belittling our misfortunes by affirming that all is well, but you so burden the list of our miseries that you further disparage our condition. Instead of the consolations that I expected, you only vex me. It might be said that you fear that I don't feel my unhappiness enough, and that you are trying to soothe me by proving that all is bad.

Do not be mistaken, Monsieur, it happens that everything is contrary to what you propose. This optimism which you find so cruel consoles me still in the same woes that you force on me as unbearable. Pope's poem alleviates my difficulties and inclines me to patience; yours makes my afflictions worse, prompts me to grumble, and, leading me beyond a shattered hope, reduces me to despair....

"Have patience, man," Pope and Leibnitz tell me, "your woes are a necessary effect of your nature and of the constitution of the universe. The eternal and beneficent Being who governs the universe wished to protect you. Of all the possible plans, he chose that combining the minimum evil and the maximum good. If it is necessary to say the same thing more bluntly, God has done no better for mankind because (He) can do no better."

Now what does your poem tell me? "Suffer forever unfortunate one. If a God created you, He is doubtlessly all powerful and could have prevented all your woes. Don't ever hope that your woes will end, because you would never know why you exist, if it is not to suffer and die...."

I do not see how one can search for the source of moral evil anywhere but in man.... Moreover ... the majority of our physical misfortunes are also our work. Without leaving your Lisbon subject, concede, for example, that it was hardly nature that there brought together twenty-thousand houses of six or seven stories. If the residents of this large city had been more evenly dispersed and less densely housed, the losses would have been fewer or perhaps none at all. Everyone would have fled at the first shock. But many obstinately remained . . . to expose themselves to additional earth tremors because what they would have had to leave behind was worth more than what they could carry away. How many unfortunates perished in this disaster through the desire to fetch their clothing, papers, or money? . . .

There are often events that afflict us . . . that lose a lot of their horror when we examine them closely. I learned in Zadig, and nature daily confirms my lesson, that a rapid death is not always a true misfortune, and that it can sometimes be considered a relative blessing. Of the many persons crushed under Lisbon's ruins, some without doubt escaped greater misfortunes, and . . . it is not certain that a single one of these unfortunates suffered more than if, in the normal course of events, he had awaited [a more normal] death to overtake him after long agonies. Was death [in the ruins] a sadder end than that of a dying person overburdened with useless treatments, whose notary and heirs do not allow him a respite, whom the doctors kill in his own bed at their leisure, and whom the barbarous priests artfully try to make relish death? For me, I see everywhere that the misfortunes nature imposes upon us are less cruel than those which we add to them....

I cannot prevent myself, Monsieur, from noting . . . a strange contrast between you and me as regards the subject of this letter. Satiated with glory . . . you live free in the midst of affluence. Certain of your immortality, you peacefully philosophize on the nature of the soul, and, if your body or heart suffer, you have Tronchin as doctor and friend. You however find only evil on earth. And I, an obscure and poor man tormented with an incurable illness, meditate with pleasure in my seclusion and find that all is well. What is the source of this apparent contradiction? You explained it yourself: you revel but I hope, and hope beautifies everything.

. . . I have suffered too much in this life not to look forward to another. No metaphysical subtleties cause me to doubt a time of immortality for the soul and a beneficent providence. I sense it, I believe it, I wish it, I hope for it, I will uphold it until my last gasp....

I am, with respect, Monsieur,

Jean-Jacques Rousseau"

2010-03-12T07:50:00.003-07:00

I didn't get anything done for Christmas break...YAY! It's been soooo nice to not have to do *anything*. I would have liked to written some, maybe to have drawn, but I didn't and I'm okay with that. I got the new Zelda game for Christmas which I'm super happy about; it's pretty nice (not awesome, but nice).

Later in January I got Mass Effect 2 which I have dutifully played since. I only have 1 class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and it gets done at 9:30 a.m. so I've had plenty of time to play it (even when I have to work).

I recently stumbled across Mystery Science Theater 3000 on YouTube. I'd forgotten how hilarious it is.

Life's been pretty easy. God looks out for me, which I appreciate.

School!!! Wait...

2009-10-01T22:28:00.002-06:00

So I started school at the end of August. It's weird being back after not going for the last year. I'm having a hard time keeping up with all of the assignments. And I only have three classes! Eastern Civ is pretty much awesome, even if the teacher is a bit odd (he's still cool). I positively adore my American History 2 teacher; never have I met someone so neutral in their assessment of the past, which I really appreciate. Western Civ...well he has a tendency to repeat himself over and over...and over again.

It's nice being at the Institute though (even though I still went to it last year), I like my teacher and fellow classmates. Lunch committee has been awesome, just like last year. We have WAY cooler lunches than ever and much more help, which is nice.

Boring really...

2009-07-28T17:42:00.002-06:00

Not much has happened recently. Okay, my brother came up, and that was awesome. The house always feels so empty without those extra 5 people staying in it.

Amber, the youngest...so far, had this whole thing going on for Lulu, our dog. She'd pretty much wander around the house saying her name while looking for her. Jarom is an absolute monster in both the good and bad senses of the word. And Mackayla is what she always is; a doll. We also got to play Canasta (or whatever our version is called) late into the night, which is always cool.

Other than that though, I've mostly just been living normal life and playing Pokémon.

See y'all next time!

More PJ

2009-06-11T19:44:00.004-06:00

PJ! My new nephew!

2009-06-11T19:29:00.006-06:00

What else is new?

2009-06-03T15:07:00.002-06:00

So Julie is waiting to have her baby. And waiting. And waiting. Darned if baby PJ isn't bound and determined to STAY INSIDE his mother. He even went up. No, he didn't drop (he used to be really low as it was) he went up. Higher. Ugh. He needs to come. Now.

So I rebooted my computer the other week. So, in order to keep all of my personal files, I had to transfer them all over to our home PC. Yea. It took FOREVER. Fortunately a random person I met gave me their (unopened) Rewritable DVD's and made the transfer *to* the PC much faster. But our PC was being a punk and wouldn't write the info. back onto the DVD's, so the returning of the info. back to my laptop took forever. During this process I decided to delete all of my Word docs. Fun, huh? That's right. I had no more storys, no more book, no more anything. Again, by the grace of God (literally, I think) I got them all pulled back off the Harddrive and now have them all back. Bad news: I'm in another slump. I hate writers block.

The Yoko Factor.

2009-04-13T22:50:00.003-06:00

So, as I said, my friend Alex went on a mission. Yet there's been this real problem since then; my "crew" has pretty much broken up since then. I could blame this on his leaving, but as was explained in an episode of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, it was really just the Yoko Factor. The truth is we were about ready to split up any way, but had kinda stayed together that last week because of Alex.

*Sigh* Still kinda frustrating anyway. We used to do so much those last two months. Oh well.

Sailor Moon and other updates.

2009-03-24T20:50:00.003-06:00

So recently I've found Hi-res versions of the last season of my old favorite animé Sailor Moon. Sailor Stars (the last season) wasn't ever translated so it wasn't ever aired. Before all I could find is youtube videos. It's really nice to be able to actually see what happens.

* * * *
My good friend, Alex, went on a Mission a few weeks back, so I've been a little off. Fortunately I've got other good friends to keep my company, even if the wind has been kinda taken out of all for the next 24 Fast Sundays (as good aunt Charlotte once pointed out to my mom). I'm glad the went though, it'll be good for him,

* * * *
Yea for Pokémon! Platinum version came out over the last weekend.

Meeting old friends.

2009-01-09T23:30:00.002-07:00

It's been a long time since I've seen my friend Megan Tague, like, 6+ years. So I was really happy when I got a chance to have her cut my hair recently (she did an amazing job too). Life's going pretty well for her despite some unpleasant life changes. It always makes you feel good to see someone you've known since you were 7.

That seems to be happening a lot recently to me. Meeting up with old friends that is. It's been nice.

If I Never Knew You...

2008-11-30T00:21:00.000-07:00

Coolest...song...ever:

Family's doin' great.

2008-10-28T21:45:00.001-06:00

Not much to update. When I get more time I'll put in something more exciting. Everyone here (Julie, Justin (their kids), Mom, Dad and me) are doing fine.

Birthday!

2008-10-15T19:42:00.002-06:00

So it's my birthday today! I got some nice clothes and a Star Wars: The Clone Wars calendar (which is cool) along with a CTR ring. I'm really happy, but a little off put by the fact that I'm now 23. It's crazy; I feel so old, especially when I remember that I'm going out with a girl who just turned 19 and work with a girl who's 17 (have I really been out of high school that long).

I got to spend the day with some of my family (everyone except for my brother and his family who lives in Arizona (like a couple of my cousins whose blogs are listed here on the side)) so it was really nice to spend time with them.

Sunglasses.

2008-10-09T10:13:00.002-06:00

So I got a new pair of Ray-band (spelling?) sunglasses the other day. And I've gotta admit, nothing feels better than a new pair of really nice sunglasses. Seriously; the way they hug your face, the tight, firm feel of the frames, the comfortable weight. All a sign of a good pair of sunglasses.

I've really needed some recently, what with driving to Boise every morning to go to school, since I lost my last pair of (much cheaper) sunglasses somewhere...out there... . I drive into the sun and it's really annoying to have my car visor down so far that I can't even see the road (besides the fact that such a thing is dangerous).

However, now my car is experiencing troubles so that's fun. I finally get my sunglasses only to have the car that I needed them in, be taken in. Fantastic.

Anyway, a couple of random updates on life.

Dancing with the Old Ladies...

2008-09-26T09:59:00.002-06:00

Okay, so for those who don't follow Dancing with the Stars, Octogenarian Cloris Leachman is on this season and she's quite bad. Here's the real problem: after two vote-offs she's still on the show. For anyone who is still voting for her: STOP. This is not fair to those who are obviously better then her *cough*TedMcGinley*cough*. Despite how it may seem, this is not a popularity contest, it's a dance contest.

Anyway...
/function: End Rant

-Zehn Waters, the Silaglaren

2008-09-20T19:01:00.001-06:00

Make my rainy day.

2008-09-20T17:57:00.002-06:00

So I bought Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for the Nintendo Wii Monday, but it's only now that I'm able to play it. It's way cool! I love video games, especially Star Wars ones. Also, I got the Star Wars RPG guide that ties in with it, so double whammy.

It's kinda rainy outside right now. Okay, understatement, it's raining like there's no tomorrow, complete with lightning and thunder; but, hey, maybe it will clean out the air.

I got to see the Reflections of Christ exhibit at Boise State last Sunday. It's very powerful. I was particularly smitten with the picture of Christ and John the Baptist embracing after Christs baptism. The photographer and two singers (who recorded music for the exhibit) spoke at a fireside they had as well. There was also a sort of "Behind the Scenes" video that was very cool.

Well, that's where things are right now. See y'all later!

Of RPG's.

2008-09-09T09:15:00.003-06:00

So one of my lifes passions are Role-Playing Games. So by now your either thinking of the video game kind of RPG's or your thinking I'm a crazy cultist who likes to sacrifice dogs to my evil Dungeons and Dragons gods. Well you'd be wrong on both accounts. There are Video Game RPG's (and I do like some of them), and Dungeons and Dragons is a table-top RPG (but it isn't evil you nutjobs), I'm speaking of the Star Wars RPG (which is made by the same company who owns D&D) and The Lord of the Rings RPG (by Decipher; out of print).

While doing such RPG's is usually done in person and with a group of persons, I, unfortunately, do not have such luxuries (plus doing it in person makes it awkward to do emotional scenes). Instead I have...my brother (and occasionally my sister; in seperate games) and the internet. We play over e-mails and IM. As I brought up, this makes it easier to actually ROLE-play, it makes it harder to get the story actually going and stretches it out over a very extended period of time.

*Sighs* Oh well, life goes on.

-Zehn Waters, the Silaglaren

P.S. It's Fraggle Rock by the way. Philistine.

First Blog!

2008-09-07T21:39:00.000-06:00

Alright! *Stretches fingers* Well since everyone else is doing it, I thought I might as well too. (Not the best of logic, but sometimes it's okay.) Let's start with a little background on myself. I'm the youngest of three children, and despite my online handle, my name is Gregg. I've an elder brother named Mark and an older sister named Julie. Both are married (Susie and Justin respectively). As are my parents, Emma Karen and Lee (though they're married to each other obviously). My brother has three kids right now (Makayla, Jarom and Amber), and my sister two (Xander and Chaye). I pretty much live for them right now, not being married myself at the moment, and never being much with the friends.

Right now I'm working steadily on my book. It's a fantasy novel and I eagerly want to get it finished. It's always been my life long dream to get a book published (though I wasn't always aware of this, when I was younger I wanted to be a Dentist).

Bonus points for whoever can figure out from where the name of my blog comes from.