So I was with Cando, Debby, and Brian yesterday at the Concord mall, and we were heading towards H&M, b/c they had some type of sale thing going. Along the way, I notice one of the stores is Victoria’s Secret, which is a pretty common sight in most malls. And the thought comes to me, it would be really funny to open new retail stores directly across from every Victoria’s Secret in every mall and call it Victor’s Secret. Maybe the tagline will be, “A new type of store, for a new type of man.”

Now the store idea by itself isn’t that unique. However, while I was sitting on a bench in the changing room waiting for Cando and Debs to finish trying out items, I remarked to Brian, “I wonder if it’s kind of awkward for the women inside to know that two guys are just chillin’ right outside the changing stall doors.” Then all of a sudden, my mind did a mental somersault, and reversed the situation. What if I was in the changing stall and there were a row of girls just sitting right outside? Then somewhere in the distance, someone flipped on a switch and the lightbulb turned on. What if…what if the women would sit there and comment on any man after they try on a new peice of clothing…thumbs up or thumbs down?

But I have to attend my Lord’s Table (Sunday morning church meeting) now…so…

To be continued…

I’m eating a salad right now…out of a pot. Yes. Salad in a pot. And not a small pot, mind you, but a pot 9.25 inches in diameter. I know. Your first reaction is: typical Jon insanity. But, behind the madness is good, solid rationality. Salad in a pot is what happens when you order an Intermezzo salad. They put so much in that to-go box that lettuce literally flys out when you open it. A normal bowl could never contain this salad. In fact, a LARGE normal bowl wouldn’t do the job either. Thus, a pot.

It’s all perfectly reasonable once you hear the underlying story. As if with most things. Problem is, hardly anyone makes the effort to discover the underlying story. Most people are too busy or they are too much biased by their preconceived notions. Sometimes though, it might behoove one to take the time to stop and go beyond what is on the surface. But don’t read too much into things either. This time, it’s simply a salad in a pot.

At the beginning of the summer, I had a number of projects on my mind that I wanted to finish before I left for the FTTA. I wanted to implement a new blogsite, finish reading the Old Testament, read all the books on the “Suggested Reading” list for the FTTA, and create a digital story/scrapbook. But now with only one month left, I realized the only thing I have any results to show for is this blog, and even then, it’s not fully finished; there’s still a number of design elements I want to incorporate.

Instead, I end up squandering most of my time on computer games or watching movies. But then, after a full day of work, I really don’t feel up to anything that requires mental exertion. The addiction of computer games after a long day comes from the fact that you can just sit down and mindlessly click on the screen, and vegetate. The same goes for movies. Passive entertainment. The opium of the masses. Yes…bring on the opium.

Except…that’s a really sad way to live. Lord, grant me, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit into my inner man. Operate in me the willing and the working, that I would cooperate to remain in touch with You, to have a habitual fellowship with You, and to be under Your constant infusion by walking according to the spirit.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s my computer or cookies or something. But the pictures hardly ever load up properly when I login. And facebook isn’t much fun without the pictures.

Yes. I do rant.

The other day, I was sitting on the MUNI in SF, and the bus had passed its stop and well was on its way, when I see a man running heavily in what I thought was a futile attempt to catch the bus. To my amazement, the bus driver pulls the bus over to the side, even with cars parked alongside the curb, and lets the huffing man on. Of course the man was very grateful.

Actually, I shouldn’t be so surprised. Many times when I’m on the MUNI, I find that the drivers take the time to make sure everyone gets on the bus. When they see someone running in the distance, they stop and wait for them instead of driving off as soon as the light turns green. Also, MUNI operators aren’t as anal as AC Transit drivers in checking to see you have the right bus fare. It makes me think that the MUNI operators really care for the people of their community.

And then you have the AC Transit drivers. So many times, even when you’re merely a feet away from the closing bus doors, the bus goes roaring off as you stare dumbfounded before trudging off to walk the rest of the way to class. Sometimes, if people are really lucky, the bus driver gives them a middle finger salute too before leaving them in the dust.

This got my mind running down a list of questions trying to analyze the possible reasons behind the difference in the two bus systems. Does AC Transit recruit lower caliber drivers? Are MUNI operators better connected with the community they serve than in the East Bay? Perhaps MUNI drivers are paid higher wages than the AC Transit drivers, and so are much happier? Or maybe it’s due to the demographics they serve; perhaps AC Transit drivers are so sick of obnoxious college students trying to sneak on without the right sticker that they have become jaded? I wonder…

I just polished off half a whole cantelope all by myself. I ate it the dig-with-a-spoon-into-the-cantelope-bowl style. I thought I’d share that with the rest of the world.

Now my stomach feels like it can look like half a cantelope.