Tuesday, January 30, 2007
RESPONSE FROM JEFF ROORBACH- CONTRITE ENOUGH?
Lords of Shen lend me your ears! The Greatest Dorm on Earth (also known as Shenawana Hall) has certainly not degenerated into a Lord of the Flies scenario, (or the heretical statement of “going South” yuck!) unless of course you are speaking about our wars against South, not Rothenbuhler (ick!). It is with great pride that I wish to report to you, the forerunners from our Great Dorm, that Shen has not only waged victorious battles against the residents of South, but will continue to battle members of South Hall wherever and whenever we find them! The article that I wrote was indeed part creative and part fact but the sacred traditions of our dorm (the man pile, the IBC, and indeed the noise) will never disappear! Lords of Shen please return anytime and guide us (and our RA’s and RD) in the sacred rites and traditions of our dorm! Long live SHEN! In the second year of the reign of Kliner the First,
Jeff Roorbach
Jeff Roorbach
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
LEND ME YOUR EARS SHEN LORDS!
I just read the following in the Houghton Milieu, and it is with disgust that I bring it to your attention. They have a piece called "A day in the Life of Houghton College," and our very own Shenawana Hall was featured in the 11:00 pm slot with a brief article entitled Quiet Hours. Has Shenawana degenerated into a Lord of the Flies like scenario. Don't make me come back there Shenawana and drop some law and order on you. ...and I don't know how I feel about this man-pile business and RA's looking the other way "approvingly" at quiet hour violations. What kind of show are they runnin' up there anyway. This was not the Shenawana I remember. Don't go South on me guys! "Quiet Hours means nothing in this dorm." Disgusted.
by Jeffrey D. Roorbach ’09
Shenawana has been pretty calm until now, but guys are coming back from dates, Big Al’s, or the movie (Mission Impossible III) and they’re wound up. Never mind that it’s 11:05; “quiet hours” means nothing in this dorm. I hear the cacophony beginning to rise and walk to the doorway of my room to see what’s going on.
“Man pile!!” someone screams, and guys come running to jump on the growing mound. At the bottom, someone grunts under the intense weight. Two soccer players have an impromptu game going in the hallway. The sounds of Halo, light sabers and movies blare from various rooms. The RA on duty walks around, sees nothing too violent, and nods approvingly of the mayhem. From the lounge come shouts of joy from guys watching a soccer game on TV as their team has just scored. Next door an IBC root beer chugging/belching contest is underway. “We’ll be down in ten minutes!” another guy yells out the bathroom window to friends waiting on the lawn.
If you’re bored in this dorm, it’s your fault.
by Jeffrey D. Roorbach ’09
Shenawana has been pretty calm until now, but guys are coming back from dates, Big Al’s, or the movie (Mission Impossible III) and they’re wound up. Never mind that it’s 11:05; “quiet hours” means nothing in this dorm. I hear the cacophony beginning to rise and walk to the doorway of my room to see what’s going on.
“Man pile!!” someone screams, and guys come running to jump on the growing mound. At the bottom, someone grunts under the intense weight. Two soccer players have an impromptu game going in the hallway. The sounds of Halo, light sabers and movies blare from various rooms. The RA on duty walks around, sees nothing too violent, and nods approvingly of the mayhem. From the lounge come shouts of joy from guys watching a soccer game on TV as their team has just scored. Next door an IBC root beer chugging/belching contest is underway. “We’ll be down in ten minutes!” another guy yells out the bathroom window to friends waiting on the lawn.
If you’re bored in this dorm, it’s your fault.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Every once in a while some famous or important national figure dies and we don't here about anything else in the news for at least week. Sometimes it is the person's life and achievements that brings about the gushy media frenzy (Gerald Ford) and sometimes it is the manner in which they died (Sharon Tate). So for today's question of the day- who will be the next one to go? I personally think the next time we don't even hear about Iraq for a week is when they bag sasquatch, but I think the next significant national figure to die will be none other than Dick Cheney. It saddens me to think about it, but the day must come and I think that ticker is running on sheer momentum. I'm afraid that after 2008 he'll tag out. The burden of this country and all of its weighty concerns are more than that fragile frame can bear. I'll tune in though when it happen. That is the form that my grief will take- a 24 hour news coma.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
I'M READING KON-TIKI BY THOR HEYERDAHL
...and it is making me hungry for an adventure! It is a really good book.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
PATCHES (The saddest song I've ever heard.)
I was born and raised down in Alabama
On a farm way back up in the woods
I was so ragged the folks used call me patches
Papa used to teas me about it
But deep down inside
He was hurt because he done all he could do
My papa was a great old man
I can see him with a shovel in his hand digging
Education he never had
But he did wonders when the time got bad
A little money from the crops he raised
Helped pay the bills we made
For months he'd been sick and down in the dumps
When he tried to get up life would kick him back down
One day papa called me to his dyin bed
Put his hands on my shoulders And in tears he said
He said Patches, I'm depending on you son
To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you
Two days later papa passed away
I became a man that day
So I told mama I was gonna quit school
But she said that was daddys strictest rule
So every morning before I went to school
I fed the chickens and I chopped wood too
Sometimes I felt that I couldn't go on
I wanted to leave and run away from home
But I would remember what my daddy said
With tears in his eyes on his dyin bed
He said, "Patches, I'm depending on you son
To pull the family through. My son its all left up to you
Then one day a strong rain came
And washed all the crops away
And at the age of thirteen I thought I was carrying
The weight of the whole world on my shoulders
And you know, mama knew what I was going through, Cause
Everyday I had to work the fields
Cause that's the only way we got our meals
You see, I was the oldest of a family
And everybody else depended on me
Every night I heard my mama pray
Lord, give him the strength to face another day
Though years have passed and all the kids have grown
The Angels took mama to a brand new home
But, No people,I never quit
My daddy's voice still rings through the fields
Sayin, "Patches, I'm depending on you son
To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you
Patches, I'm depending on you son
On a farm way back up in the woods
I was so ragged the folks used call me patches
Papa used to teas me about it
But deep down inside
He was hurt because he done all he could do
My papa was a great old man
I can see him with a shovel in his hand digging
Education he never had
But he did wonders when the time got bad
A little money from the crops he raised
Helped pay the bills we made
For months he'd been sick and down in the dumps
When he tried to get up life would kick him back down
One day papa called me to his dyin bed
Put his hands on my shoulders And in tears he said
He said Patches, I'm depending on you son
To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you
Two days later papa passed away
I became a man that day
So I told mama I was gonna quit school
But she said that was daddys strictest rule
So every morning before I went to school
I fed the chickens and I chopped wood too
Sometimes I felt that I couldn't go on
I wanted to leave and run away from home
But I would remember what my daddy said
With tears in his eyes on his dyin bed
He said, "Patches, I'm depending on you son
To pull the family through. My son its all left up to you
Then one day a strong rain came
And washed all the crops away
And at the age of thirteen I thought I was carrying
The weight of the whole world on my shoulders
And you know, mama knew what I was going through, Cause
Everyday I had to work the fields
Cause that's the only way we got our meals
You see, I was the oldest of a family
And everybody else depended on me
Every night I heard my mama pray
Lord, give him the strength to face another day
Though years have passed and all the kids have grown
The Angels took mama to a brand new home
But, No people,I never quit
My daddy's voice still rings through the fields
Sayin, "Patches, I'm depending on you son
To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you
Patches, I'm depending on you son
Monday, January 08, 2007
Saturday, January 06, 2007
"Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?"
Bob Dylan
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?"
Bob Dylan
Friday, January 05, 2007
Yesterday Sarah was cleaning our bedroom and came upon this letter, which I had written to her in the spring before our wedding. I reread it and thought I should post it here for your enjoyment. In the letter I am rather frank in discussing how much I am looking forward to getting married and having sex, which may offend (gross out) some, but in all it is an interesting window into a very different time in our lives. We were engaged, and I was working as a police officer in St Albans. Sarah had just finished a year at Houghton and was traveling with friends down to South Carolina. The letter, which begins on 4/4 and ends in early may, was written in the months immediately prior to our wedding on 6/16.
Dearest,
4/4/01
It’s 10:30 here. I got up about an hour ago and ate some pancakes. Pancakes can be surprisingly filling. I feel full.
It suddenly occurs to me that you won’t get this until after you get back from your East Coast odyssey. I don’t know whether or not to continue with this or not. After all, I’ll see you in the interim (hopefully).
All the talk on the news is centered on China’s seizure of our spy plane and its 24 crew members. I don’t have much pity for the crew as they are probably being fed Chinese food, and I like Chinese food. I’m just afraid that if Bush doesn’t handle this crisis very carefully he could disrupt the flow of Chinese food. I mean, what would we do if China decided to stop shipping Chinese food to America? Here in St Albans people are lined up outside the royal dynasty, China Wok, and Happy Buffet clamoring for Chinese food before ties are severed. I hope that day never comes.
-I’ll write more later-
4/8/01
I imagine you must be in So. Carolina by now. I’m not sure why I am writing this letter. I guess I just miss you. I hope I get to see you this weekend. I understand if it doesn’t work out though. It’s starting to get warmer up here, which makes me happy.
4/30/01
I’m at my parent’s house. In roughly a month and a half they will be your parents as well. I came down last night after working the parade. I had heard on the weather channel that there was going to be a nice south wind today and there was. I took advantage of the wind by going canoeing. It was beautiful out there.
I have to go back to St Albans tonight though as I have work first thing in the morning. Right now I’m doing laundry. I like Spring out here by the lake as it smells good. You can smell the lake, cedar, and of course “last year’s grass pungent underfoot.” Somebody has been out working on that house on the road behind the lake house. They cut away the bushes and trees on one side so vehicles can get in there, and a hole has been covered in the roof. I wonder if somebody has designs of fixing it up this summer. Maybe on our honeymoon we can find the owner. If we can find him/her we’ll invite him/her over for dinner and poker. Then we’ll get him/her liquored up and hopefully we can win the house in a game of poker. Either that or I’ll wrestle ‘em for it.
5/3/01
I’m sitting in Taylor Park right in the middle of St Albans. I left the apartment to throw out the trash, but it was so nice out that I just kept walking. I walked all over in my sandals, grey shorts and Atari t-shirt before stopping here.
It’s beautiful here right now. Typical morning traffic is winding down main street and everybody is out on their porches or lollygagging outside enjoying the novelty of the warmth and sunshine after the long winter. Yesterday it got up to 96 degrees which is a May record for the State of Vermont. Today it is supposed to be in the mid 80’s. I think it is kind of funny how many people I see with sweaters tied around their waists or with jackets under their arm. It’s like they thing springtime is some cruel hoax, and jack Frost is probably riding the next wind. I think it’ll be warm for awhile though. Thank goodness!
Two days till Mother’s Day. I’m gonna wish you a happy Mother’s day. Although you aren’t a mother yet you will be. You will be the mother of my children. Isn’t that amazing! I can’t wait to be married! I can wait for the wedding, but I’m truly excited about the marriage. I wish you were here right now. We could play chess or something in the park then we would go home and have SEX! Then we’d have lunch, and have sex again. Then I would shower and go into work. Domestic Bliss!
I’m gonna call a travel agent tomorrow about some tickets. I wonder if some day we won’t be so poor. I kind of think of money and finances as a game, and like most games I don’t enjoy it as much if I am losing.
Everything is greening up nicely here in St Albans, and I think that by the next time you see it it’ll be nice and leafy
Well my sweet, I’m gonna wrap this letter up and mail it out. I love you. Apparently there was a $50- limit on my long distance so I won’t have long distance until after I pay this bill. I love you and I’ll call you when I can.
Love, Josh
Dearest,
4/4/01
It’s 10:30 here. I got up about an hour ago and ate some pancakes. Pancakes can be surprisingly filling. I feel full.
It suddenly occurs to me that you won’t get this until after you get back from your East Coast odyssey. I don’t know whether or not to continue with this or not. After all, I’ll see you in the interim (hopefully).
All the talk on the news is centered on China’s seizure of our spy plane and its 24 crew members. I don’t have much pity for the crew as they are probably being fed Chinese food, and I like Chinese food. I’m just afraid that if Bush doesn’t handle this crisis very carefully he could disrupt the flow of Chinese food. I mean, what would we do if China decided to stop shipping Chinese food to America? Here in St Albans people are lined up outside the royal dynasty, China Wok, and Happy Buffet clamoring for Chinese food before ties are severed. I hope that day never comes.
-I’ll write more later-
4/8/01
I imagine you must be in So. Carolina by now. I’m not sure why I am writing this letter. I guess I just miss you. I hope I get to see you this weekend. I understand if it doesn’t work out though. It’s starting to get warmer up here, which makes me happy.
4/30/01
I’m at my parent’s house. In roughly a month and a half they will be your parents as well. I came down last night after working the parade. I had heard on the weather channel that there was going to be a nice south wind today and there was. I took advantage of the wind by going canoeing. It was beautiful out there.
I have to go back to St Albans tonight though as I have work first thing in the morning. Right now I’m doing laundry. I like Spring out here by the lake as it smells good. You can smell the lake, cedar, and of course “last year’s grass pungent underfoot.” Somebody has been out working on that house on the road behind the lake house. They cut away the bushes and trees on one side so vehicles can get in there, and a hole has been covered in the roof. I wonder if somebody has designs of fixing it up this summer. Maybe on our honeymoon we can find the owner. If we can find him/her we’ll invite him/her over for dinner and poker. Then we’ll get him/her liquored up and hopefully we can win the house in a game of poker. Either that or I’ll wrestle ‘em for it.
5/3/01
I’m sitting in Taylor Park right in the middle of St Albans. I left the apartment to throw out the trash, but it was so nice out that I just kept walking. I walked all over in my sandals, grey shorts and Atari t-shirt before stopping here.
It’s beautiful here right now. Typical morning traffic is winding down main street and everybody is out on their porches or lollygagging outside enjoying the novelty of the warmth and sunshine after the long winter. Yesterday it got up to 96 degrees which is a May record for the State of Vermont. Today it is supposed to be in the mid 80’s. I think it is kind of funny how many people I see with sweaters tied around their waists or with jackets under their arm. It’s like they thing springtime is some cruel hoax, and jack Frost is probably riding the next wind. I think it’ll be warm for awhile though. Thank goodness!
Two days till Mother’s Day. I’m gonna wish you a happy Mother’s day. Although you aren’t a mother yet you will be. You will be the mother of my children. Isn’t that amazing! I can’t wait to be married! I can wait for the wedding, but I’m truly excited about the marriage. I wish you were here right now. We could play chess or something in the park then we would go home and have SEX! Then we’d have lunch, and have sex again. Then I would shower and go into work. Domestic Bliss!
I’m gonna call a travel agent tomorrow about some tickets. I wonder if some day we won’t be so poor. I kind of think of money and finances as a game, and like most games I don’t enjoy it as much if I am losing.
Everything is greening up nicely here in St Albans, and I think that by the next time you see it it’ll be nice and leafy
Well my sweet, I’m gonna wrap this letter up and mail it out. I love you. Apparently there was a $50- limit on my long distance so I won’t have long distance until after I pay this bill. I love you and I’ll call you when I can.
Love, Josh
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Thanks John!
I am the reigning champion of the Idyllwild Disc Golf Association. For Christmas my brother John sent me two mid-range discs and a hand drawn outline of a nine-hole disc golf course here on the campground. Lisa Richard and I took it upon ourselves to test the course, and we had a jim-dandy time doing this "research"... oh yes, it's camp related and thus research. It was work...not fun.
Of course, I dominated beating Lisa 43 to 72 (let us gloss over the fact that 28 would have been par for the course. I think I could lower my score even further by using a regular frisbee as well as the mid-range disc that john sent me). The Mid-range disc was too heavy and didn't go very far, but it was awesome in mid-range (of course).
Based on our "research," Lisa and I are in agreement that a formalized Disc golf course will coming to Camp Maranatha sometime in the near future. I will pass on my recommendation to the board that we move forward on this plan with all due dispatch.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
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