My mother and brother are making fun of us because we like to watch Nascar races.
Meanwhile the two of them go online to play a computer game with 100,000 other people. Their conversation sounds something like this:
M: Have you been to the dark forest?
B: Yeah, you go there to get the axe.
M: I couldn't find the axe, the goblins kept killing me.
B: You have to go across the fence.
M: I saw the fence but couldn't find an opening.
B: I only go there when I need to. I'm scared of the dark forest.
Huh? Its okay for two adults to go online into a virtual world looking for axes but its redneck to watch drivers and their teams use math and science to figure out how to win a race on the least amount of pit stops and tire changes? Admittedly, watching Nascar is passive. However, I don't have a great inclination to go virtual fishing or virtual tree planting in order to sell what I catch or grow to buy an axe to finish some bizarre ritual to earn points. Fishing is sorta real time. You cast, you wait, you yank up the line.
More frightening is the thought of me coming across my mother while in one of these virtual reality worlds. How weird is that?
Friday, July 03, 2009
Mandarin Buffet
Yup, I was contemplating standing in line for free Mandarin on Wednesday. I spent some time with my brother discussing the factors in choosing a location that would have the fewest in line:
1) must be one you can drive to - accessbility by walking or mass transit allows the lower income who might be attracted to free good food!
2) must be one that is not in the city close to other things - people with children will likely not want to stand in a barren parking lot for hours
3) if it rains, the line will be reduced by one hour wait maybe more
4) the only time to go is for opening - if you don't get in within the first wave there is not telling how long you will wait
5) we debated whether the fact that it is free and you have to wait would result in longer eating times or shorter. When I'm paying the big bucks I will try to get my money's worth. If its free am I trying to get all that I can because its a rare treat or is the fact that I'm in there eating whatever I want enough? We didn't factor in the wait time- if you have waited for three hours would you be more likely to take longer to make up for the standing around or is the fact that you made it in the door victory enough?
I was prepared to go to the Mandarin at 404 and 7. It has lots of criteria - its in a part of town that is not residential but rather mixed used industry. There is limited bus service and no TTC. Its near a Chinese area which I figured might actually work in my favour - would anyone Chinese stand in line to eat here? I figured I could stand for two hours 10 a.m. for 12 p.m. seating.
However, when I read the blogs of the last free dinner years ago I saw that wait times were upwards of 3 or 4 hours! I'm going to stand for four hours and break my diet just because its free? As my mom pointed out the dieting would probably mean the food would be too rich and I wouldn't be able to fill up anyways.
The Yonge and Eglinton location had a line up of 800 people before it opened. I'm sure my strategy would have worked - but we opted to drive up to the cottage to make sure its still standing and to open it up for the season. July 1st was a great day to go -coming home the highway was pretty smooth!
1) must be one you can drive to - accessbility by walking or mass transit allows the lower income who might be attracted to free good food!
2) must be one that is not in the city close to other things - people with children will likely not want to stand in a barren parking lot for hours
3) if it rains, the line will be reduced by one hour wait maybe more
4) the only time to go is for opening - if you don't get in within the first wave there is not telling how long you will wait
5) we debated whether the fact that it is free and you have to wait would result in longer eating times or shorter. When I'm paying the big bucks I will try to get my money's worth. If its free am I trying to get all that I can because its a rare treat or is the fact that I'm in there eating whatever I want enough? We didn't factor in the wait time- if you have waited for three hours would you be more likely to take longer to make up for the standing around or is the fact that you made it in the door victory enough?
I was prepared to go to the Mandarin at 404 and 7. It has lots of criteria - its in a part of town that is not residential but rather mixed used industry. There is limited bus service and no TTC. Its near a Chinese area which I figured might actually work in my favour - would anyone Chinese stand in line to eat here? I figured I could stand for two hours 10 a.m. for 12 p.m. seating.
However, when I read the blogs of the last free dinner years ago I saw that wait times were upwards of 3 or 4 hours! I'm going to stand for four hours and break my diet just because its free? As my mom pointed out the dieting would probably mean the food would be too rich and I wouldn't be able to fill up anyways.
The Yonge and Eglinton location had a line up of 800 people before it opened. I'm sure my strategy would have worked - but we opted to drive up to the cottage to make sure its still standing and to open it up for the season. July 1st was a great day to go -coming home the highway was pretty smooth!
Update
Well, I think I've come to terms with my journey at this point. I have no answers except that reading the beginning of Romans has really helped centre me a bit in taking criticism in stride.
I have also been thinking of specific people and their full personalities and realising that many of them would not have been approved by Council to enter ministry either. Yet God has called them and works through them just like he did Moses, David and Paul.
Which leaves me still with the call and trying to be wise. Regardless of denomination there will be those who don't like my personality. On the other hand, I've seen some people who are very easy to get along with but they still have issues which may be a bit more hidden. We naturally gravitate to "nice" people - just keep your ugly side hidden. Its really ironic to be in a denomination that can't go one week without telling itself and others that we are born sinful and without hope yet we are so disappointed when people don't measure up. I would rather have a pastor with warts then one that seems to preach from being above it all.
Perhaps that's post modern. Or realistic. Or maybe I'm just making it easier for me!
So I do have an application out for a ministry position - have had no feedback at all which is bothersome - I would like to know that they received it. Its downtown in a big church working Sunday evening service doing Outreach and getting to help prepare worship. I love thinking about worship and tying it into the life of the church so I am hopeful!
I have also been thinking of specific people and their full personalities and realising that many of them would not have been approved by Council to enter ministry either. Yet God has called them and works through them just like he did Moses, David and Paul.
Which leaves me still with the call and trying to be wise. Regardless of denomination there will be those who don't like my personality. On the other hand, I've seen some people who are very easy to get along with but they still have issues which may be a bit more hidden. We naturally gravitate to "nice" people - just keep your ugly side hidden. Its really ironic to be in a denomination that can't go one week without telling itself and others that we are born sinful and without hope yet we are so disappointed when people don't measure up. I would rather have a pastor with warts then one that seems to preach from being above it all.
Perhaps that's post modern. Or realistic. Or maybe I'm just making it easier for me!
So I do have an application out for a ministry position - have had no feedback at all which is bothersome - I would like to know that they received it. Its downtown in a big church working Sunday evening service doing Outreach and getting to help prepare worship. I love thinking about worship and tying it into the life of the church so I am hopeful!
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