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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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 My Major/Minor (Depending on How You Look at It) Decision
I've been thinking about this for a long time, and I think I am finally at peace with my decision. At least maybe.
To explain, I will have to go back several years, in fact over five years to when I was 14. First off let me say that this back story is directly but not entirely related to my decision, which we will get to later. I used to be in Boy Scouts, I joned when I was 14, and I actually enjoyed it. I have severe asthma and a large range of other medical problems but I felt mostly accepted and the leaders were willing to excuse me from activities I couldn't do. I learned a lot and felt that I was learning things that would be useful to me. Unfortunately, I ran into some trouble, and my parents, claiming it was for my protection, forced me to quit.
Face forward a few years until I was 17. I decided to rejoin the Boy Scouts after someone who used to be in my troop visited where I worked at the time, Chick-Fil-A, and recognized me. I didn't last very long as reality set in and I had to get a job, and my schedule conflicted. The troop actually was going to pay over $200 for me to attend the annual Summer Camp at the last minute but I had to decline due to work scheduling.
So after that I felt terrible and I didn't return. After I turned 18 I was no longer eligible but I always had that regret of what would have happened if I could have stayed with it? I always wanted to be an Eagle Scout, but life just went a different way for me. :fly2:
I've always felt that I wanted to make something out of my life. I recall a song, actually a country song, a genre that I generally don't favor, but the words reflect something about a person learning he was about to die and what did he do? I want sky diving...I went Rocky Mountain climbing.... I'm not about to do those things yet, but I would like to someday.:bird:
I made a list of 50 things I want to do before I die and I think it is time for me to start working on them, slowly but surely. I'm still quite young but I think starting to actually live younger rather then older will allow me to have fewer regrets when I get older. I really only have a few true regrets so far, and of course one of those is quitting Boy Scouts. Even if I hadn't made it to Eagle Scout, I could have at least made it close.
What brings this up is actually my pain medicine that I've been taking after my recent wisdom teeth surgery. It gives me strange dreams, and for some reason I dreamt about being in Boy Scouts again. Well, obviously that will not happen, but I have come to a decision and that is that I spend too much time on my computer. As such I've decided that I will be limiting my time on it, and that will directly affect my time at WoKJ. I'm not leaving, per-se, but I'm not going to be near as active as I used to be. There may be several days without me posting, but likely I will at least check in nightly for a while.
I will continue to update the "Ultimate Movie Mayhem" game until it ends, after which I will not be hosting another game. I have offered to manage a thread with Dolcevita on "Walk the Line" and I will work on that as well, just in limited time frames in between my adventures. :slt:
And so with all that being said I bid you all goodbye. I'll be around and I'll be checking in :candle: . I'll continue to write for the site as I can, including my movie reviews. :write:
:newy: :duel: :gun: :pope: :shv:
_________________ See above.
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:41 am |
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Eagle
Site Owner
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:09 pm Posts: 14631 Location: Pittsburgh
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First off ... Make another post with your list!!! I want to see your goals and such ... secondly you better not ditch out on me to go see Starwars.
Maybe it is good that you just check in occasionally, nothing wrong with that, just make sure you grace us with your presence a few times a week.
But yeh, we need to set a day for star wars n such.
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:04 am |
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zingy
College Boy Z
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:40 pm Posts: 36662
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:10 am |
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rusty
rustiphica
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:59 pm Posts: 8687
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You should be a scout troop leader! And you could use your new found minions to kill mr. x! Yes! It all comes together now 
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:11 am |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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Eagle wrote: First off ... Make another post with your list!!! I want to see your goals and such ... secondly you better not ditch out on me to go see Starwars.
Maybe it is good that you just check in occasionally, nothing wrong with that, just make sure you grace us with your presence a few times a week.
But yeh, we need to set a day for star wars n such.
Let's work on a date. Did you want to go the first weekend or what? Just let me know, I can do just about anyday actually.
I'll get my list up in a few minutes. Some of them are strange I'll admit.
_________________ See above.
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:06 am |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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rusty wrote: You should be a scout troop leader! And you could use your new found minions to kill mr. x! Yes! It all comes together now 
Funny story, right after I had joined I was talking with some of the adult leaders as we were getting ready to go on a camping trip. One of them had made it all the way up to the rank just below Eagle, and the other had only made it "Tenderfoot" which is the second lowest. I laughed a little (to myself) hoping that I would get farther then that, which I didn't. Ironic, eh?
_________________ See above.
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:07 am |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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My List of 50... (not in order of importance)
1. Go deep sea fishing
2. Go hang gliding
3. Go mountain biking
4. Go on a cruise
5. Go on a safari
6. Go repelling
7. Go rock climbing
8. Go skiing
9. Go skydiving
10. Go scuba diving
11. Go wilderness camping
12. Go windsurfing
13. Learn to fence
14. Graduate from high school
15. Graduate from college
16. Get a pilot’s license
17. Get a scholarship
18. Get a graduate degree
19. Become a millionaire
20. Receive a managerial promotion/position
21. Become certified in first aide
22. Become fluent in a foreign language
23. Act a lead role in a play/film
24. Appear in a movie
25. Appear on TV
26. Appear in a magazine
27. Bench press 250 lbs.
28. Develop a website
29. Get married
30. Have a child
31. Live in a foreign country for more then three months
32. Own a business/corporation
33. Publish a book
34. Write a film screenplay
35. Write for a magazine
36. Ride a total of 300 different roller coasters
37. Teach a class
38. Visit all seven continents
39. Visit all 50 states
40. Visit a jungle
41. Donate blood
42. Win an award/medal
43. Win a contest
44. Help plan and build a park
45. Build a house
46. Revitalize a community
47. Start a charity
48. Learn to ride a horse
49. Meet a president of the United States
50. Save someone’s life
(the ones in bold I have completed)
_________________ See above.
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:16 am |
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Eagle
Site Owner
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:09 pm Posts: 14631 Location: Pittsburgh
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Yeh I wanna go the first weekend ... sunday if possible?
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 8:34 pm |
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Atoddr
Veteran
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 3:07 am Posts: 3014 Location: Kansai
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RogueCommander wrote: My List of 50... (not in order of importance)
31. Live in a foreign country for more then three months
I would certainly recommend this one. I'm working on my third year living in Japan.
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 8:56 pm |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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Eagle wrote: Yeh I wanna go the first weekend ... sunday if possible?
Sounds great. Later in the evening most likely (around 7ish?), name a theater.
_________________ See above.
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:22 pm |
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Maverikk
Award Winning Bastard
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:03 am Posts: 15310 Location: Slumming at KJ
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Good luck , RogueCommander! I wonder if you'll be finding out what everbody who has said goodbye in the past, including me, has discovered. Swallows always return to...whatever the name of that place is. (sounds like Copastrawna , I think)
You may want to leave, and may feel it keeps you from living life, but the truth is, only you can keep you from doing all of those things. Just take stuff a day at a time, and you'll be surprised how fast you can knock that list off. If you are hanging around too much, just cut back, but you really don't have to give up your computer to accomplish any of that stuff, you just have to manage your time. Hopefully, you'll see that it is possible to have the best of both worlds. :wink:
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Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:55 pm |
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dolcevita
Extraordinary
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:24 pm Posts: 16061 Location: The Damage Control Table
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Ah, the fresh idealism of youth. Go for it Rogue, and keep your half an eye on it always, or you'll slip from saving the community to settling for a good job you like and a cushy apartment, heh. SOme of those are great and go hand in hand. Building a house usually involves revitalzing an area, so does starting a charity. The best rollercoaster (IMO) is in Connecticut (just to point you in the right direction of that one). DOn't be a stranger, I'll miss you if you completely drop off the face of the earth.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:00 am |
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torrino
College Boy T
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:52 pm Posts: 16020
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The best roller coaster is SO not in Connecticut. All good rollercoasters lie in Sandusky, Ohio.
Millenium Force is the best coaster.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:07 am |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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Thanks for the kind words everyone. As you can see, I'm not leaving or saying "goodbye" per se. I'm just cutting back a little (I used to live here just about).
_________________ See above.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:25 am |
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Eagle
Site Owner
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:09 pm Posts: 14631 Location: Pittsburgh
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RogueCommander wrote: Eagle wrote: Yeh I wanna go the first weekend ... sunday if possible? Sounds great. Later in the evening most likely (around 7ish?), name a theater.
7ish is fine with me, can be later if you need.
You said you live around south atlanta right? i am in Alpharetta (Fulton) so hmmm where to meet
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:44 pm |
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dolcevita
Extraordinary
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:24 pm Posts: 16061 Location: The Damage Control Table
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You guys had better provide photos.
Two movie nights going on here at the same time. Kind of fun, coupled with Xia's vacation pics, there will be alot of oooohing and ahhhing the next few days I predict. 
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:51 pm |
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MGKC
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Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:42 pm Posts: 11808 Location: Kansas City, Kansas
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RogueCommander wrote: 19. Become a millionaire 22. Become fluent in a foreign language 32. Own a business/corporation 33. Publish a book 35. Write for a magazine 46. Revitalize a community 47. Start a charity 49. Meet a president of the United States 50. Save someone’s life
These seem like the ones that would be the hardest to do, or take a lot of time.
Becoming fluent in a language takes years and many visits to that country. But, becoming a millionaire will help you do all the rest of these things because a lot of them seem pretty costly. Publishing a book is harder than one thinks, but if you're a millionaire, a book will come because people want to know your secrets.
Saving someone's life is a good one, but you can't really work torward it, since it is about luck.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:01 pm |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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Eagle wrote: RogueCommander wrote: Eagle wrote: Yeh I wanna go the first weekend ... sunday if possible? Sounds great. Later in the evening most likely (around 7ish?), name a theater. 7ish is fine with me, can be later if you need. You said you live around south atlanta right? i am in Alpharetta (Fulton) so hmmm where to meet
Where at in Alpharetta? My brother and his wife live there so I'm fairly familiar with the area.
We could meet at a theater up there (most of them aren't that great though). Or somewhere with like an iMAX screen.
_________________ See above.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:08 pm |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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I'm already fairly good at Spanish so if I worked at it I could cross that off. I'm going to start a course in Japanese hopefully next year and plan to spend 3-months in Japan next year if it all works out. I already wrote a book, just have to get it published.
_________________ See above.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:09 pm |
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Eagle
Site Owner
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:09 pm Posts: 14631 Location: Pittsburgh
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Rouge, I am off 400 (Exit 12) ... The good theater around here is off exit 9 of 400 ... AMC Mansell Crossing. I THINK it will get Star Wars, but can't be sure. My problem is that I don't know my way around very well, but my mom does so she can just tell me where to go before i ... go.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:32 pm |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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Yeah, I've been there, and if it is the one I remember it is ok. I think I saw Miracle there last year. I know the Regal(?) Cinema off Northpoint Parkway (the one that is some what tucked away in the corner) isn't that great. I saw I, Robot there last year.
How long have you lived there? I thought you were somewhere in Pittsburgh or something. Maybe my memory is really bad.
_________________ See above.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:38 pm |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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And in case anyone noticed, my "goodbyes" didn't last very long. But I've begun to limit my time here...a little. :wink:
_________________ See above.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:40 pm |
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Eagle
Site Owner
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:09 pm Posts: 14631 Location: Pittsburgh
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There are 2 theaters on Nort Point. One is a United Artists, it is a giant peice of shit. It has one average screen, so if I don't see a movie there opening weekend I don't go at all. AMC is a much better/bigger theater ... so I won't mind going there for star wars.
I do live in Pitt ... when I go to school .. I took the semester off.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:41 pm |
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Jeff
Christian's #1 Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:25 pm Posts: 28110 Location: Awaiting my fate
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Oh ok. I was wondering about that. Anyway, yeah I saw I, Robot at United Artists then, and yes it was a terrible theater.
We could always go up to The Mall of Georgia if they are showing it on the iMAX screen. Only problem is the theater probably closes early. Maybe if we did it on Saturday instead? Just thoughts.
_________________ See above.
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:08 pm |
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dolcevita
Extraordinary
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:24 pm Posts: 16061 Location: The Damage Control Table
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RogueCommander wrote: And in case anyone noticed, my "goodbyes" didn't last very long. But I've begun to limit my time here...a little. :wink:
heh, its because ten pm is ten pm anyway you cut it. You can spend all day saving the world, but most stuff closes at five. You can go home, do alot of extra work, but everyone takes a break for an hour. Or, what i notice about students, they work all day, but take five minute breaks here and there to check in and give the mind a bit of a mental relax.
Anywho, back on topic. I WANT PICTURES! 
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Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:11 pm |
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