Voicemail shortcuts

Here's something little and seemingly insignificant that might help those of you who use cell phones:

When you call a friend and have to wait through hours of instructions/boring answer messages to leave a voicemail, here is the button to press to SKIP the instructions and greeting, so you can leave a message without costing yourself all those daytime minutes while you wait for the voicemailbox to finally beep...

Verizon - press * (Star)

Sprint/Nextel - press 1 (one)

Cingular - press 5 (five) - this one took me a few tries to figure out!

T-Mobile - press 1 (one) - sometimes, but sometimes this doesn't work. If anyone knows why, your information would be useful.

Another thing about cell phones: you pretty much are going to get about the same service with any company, so you have to pick based on customer service. I highly recommend against using Sprint, at all costs, because I've used 4 different cell phone providers and the worst customer service and pricing is with Sprint.

What company do you think is the worst?

Graduation from Southern Seminary

I was trying not to think of anything but the steps I was taking as I walked across the stage of alumni chapel to accept my diploma. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't completely silence the nostalgic thoughts that were reminding me that an important season of my life has come to a close, and a new beginning is just around the corner. My girlfriend and family came up to see me walk, and some friends from around here stopped by also.

Friday night we saw the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe, and I have to say that I really enjoyed that movie. I hope everyone goes to see it. It had to be one of the best movies I've ever seen. Hooray for disney.

Saturday the streets were backed up for miles near the mall exits. I couldn't figure out why, and then I remembered that it's that time of year when people forget about humanity and lose all sense of civilization because they want to get the best deals on some kind of materialistic possession. I watched as multiple cars had near-miss accidents and I cringed at the rudeness of the people everywhere.

Sunday I went to eat at the Cheesecake factory after church. It was pretty good, but if you go there, get the cheesecake and not any of the food, because the food's okay but not as good as the money it costs, and the cheesecake is phenomenal, though you pay about SEVEN BUCKS a piece. Yes, seven dollars, one piece. Sunday night I got to visit several of my friends that I will probably not see again for a LONG time. It was sad to have to say good-bye, and it was a reminder that we're constantly on the move and will make new friends throughout life that we don't get to keep around us. Change can be a good thing, but it can also be a very hard thing. This ends another chapter of my life, soon to begin a new one.

Does anyone kind of feel burnt out on blogging? It was actually nice to take a break for a while. If you haven't done that, I'd recommend taking about a week or two like I did, and not blog.

My life till now

Okay I'm back. Wow I forgot I had a blog! I went home to turn 26, and on the preceding Friday, took Jeannine out to Cafe Istanbul in Atlanta, a Turkish restaurant, with my little sister and her husband, Jeannine's twin, and my little brother Jeff. It was a great time, but Turkish food comes in incredibly small portions. I say this as an American, though, who grew up always having a heaping plate of food, even though I was in a family with six children. It was fun, but the belly dancer made me a little uncomfortable. Why? It's part of their culture, right? I guess I kind of had this subconscious conviction that she was objectifying herself. Or at least the belly part of herself.

For my birthday, Jeannine completely restructured my blog! It looks really cool. What's different, you ask? Well, I havent started using my new template yet because she's still working on some technical issues, but I'm excited that soon you will all see what a genius she is, because my blog will be CUSTOMIZED.

I got back here and was overwhelmed with finals and last minute stuff, but now I'm done and will be leaving Kentucky and moving back to Georgia in a couple days. Ahhh.... home.