Aboout Ryan
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- © 2003-2007 Ryan D Cordell
Today was my day off, and I delcare it good. Woke up this morning and had a decent chat with my roommate. I then headed off on a hike across town. Stopped for some gelato. I went with the Kiwi/Pineapple, Cherry, and Mango flavors, as I still can not get myself to try the corn or cheese flavors. Then it was off to the batting cages, where I feel I did pretty well. And then the final destination of the walk was Walmart. There I purchased a bike and some gear to go with it. I then proceeded to ride back home. The night consisted of dinner with a good friend, and a movie with some others.
In a moment of complete boredom recently, I penned the following poem. I don't think it is going to put me in the ranks of Emily Dickenson, Shel Silverstein, or William Shakespeare, but I felt it was at least good enough to share with you all. I call it....
"Dangerously Beautiful"
Twenty-five miles to go down this long highway,
She sits beside me sleeping so peaceful and serene.
Knowing what a tough day her weary body has seen,
I only imagine the dreams running through her mind,
Hoping that I make at least an appearance from time to time.
One can see how the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty came to be
With a glance at the smile that graces here face.
Afraid to wake her I sit quietly admiring the sight,
But seriously questioning why I let her drive tonight.
Just when you think television can't get any worse, people like this guy remind us that idiots have been on the air for a long time. Poor television is nothing new.
Last night I was forced to take some abuse in a skit to explain the rules. I was shot in the crotch with a watergun, hit over the head with a box, sprayed down with Fabreeze, put into a harness, and had chocolate pudding thrown into my face so hard, about a pint went up my nose. The things I do for kids.
Today I got to play some football (American style) on a beach in Korea with some of the new students. It reminded me of several games I played almost two years ago on a beach near Rome. For a few moments I missed Brucato, Zub and Terrell, as well as a few other guys who enjoyed that Italian beach. I couldn't think too long about it all, as I would have been eating some sand and losing ground for our team.
I've been a bit swamped lately with getting stuff ready for the school year, and hanging out with some good friends. Caught a Eagles baseball game the other night. It had to be on the highest scoring games I've been to with the final score being 13 to 11, with the Kia Tigers having less people cross the plate. The game was so intense and exciting that the fans actually started doing the wave... something I had yet to see at the Hanbat Stadium. The only downside was some friends left when it was 4-3. I heard them saying something about leaving because the park being out of corndogs or something.
Just wanted to let everyone know that I've made it safely back in Taejeon. The first thing I did after I made it to my room was head to HomePlus to buy a fan. It is so stinkin' hot and muggy over here right now. I know that the FinnGrandFest in Marquette is having the world's largest sauna this week, but right now I feel like Korea might have them beat.
Just wanted everyone to know I've made it out of the woods, and have checked in for my first flight towards Korea. See some of you soon, others not so soon. More stories and photos of the last few days will be coming soon. Just know that I can now add "surviving a hurricane" to my list of things accomplished. Didn't know it would have happened in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
So I'm now in Sheboygan, Wisconsin where just this weekend at the Brat Fest, thislittle lady broke the bratwurst eating record by pounding down 35 brats in 10 minutes. That's some quick eatin' by a lady who clocks in under 100 pounds. I'm assuming that after she was done eating she headed over to catch Night Ranger in all their 80's glory. I think their concert was down on the corner of Sentimental Street in the afternoon.
I'm back in Illinois right now, as I attended my denomination's annual convention and will be speaking at my home church on Sunday evening. It was good to see many people from many of the churches that have been supporting me over the last few years. It was good to hear how God is working around this country through those churches and individuals, as well as around the world through other missionaries our churches support. I still have to work on what I'm going to share tomorrow night though... good think I do well at impromptu speaking.
I'm officially certified as an Open Water diver. And while I was excited on my drive back to the dive shop after our last dives today, I heard some humbling news on the radio. Dick Clark informed me and the rest of his listeners that the song, "Always Something There To Remind Me," by Naked Eyes was a hit twenty two years ago. TWENTY TWO YEARS!!! Dang I'm old. I can still remember listening to that song as my siblings and I were forced to pick strawberries in the fields of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Dang mom and her need to make pies.
