I never really liked motorcycles, mostly for safety reasons. But after spending a good portion of last year zooming around on Chinese moto-taxis, I think I grew a strange affinity for their freedom and convenience. I’ve also been thinking about how I could save a lot of gas money, enjoy the weather more, and put a lot less strain on my car if I had one. So yeah … I’m seriously considering buying a motorcycle.

But I need some help … I’m not quite sure where to start the hunt. Here are the main factors I’m looking for:

1. Fuel efficient, especially in city driving
2. Seats two comfortably, with a little storage
3. Can travel highway speeds safely and smoothly
4. Dependable without requiring tons of maintenance

So … know a bit about bikes? Know someone who does? I’ve got a couple of friends in mind who might be able to help out, but the more opinions, the merrier. I’d even be open to a scooter or moped (but not a crotch rocket).

Today I’m leaving to go to the Smoky Mountains for the weekend with some friends. We’ll be staying at this cozy little cabin, hiking around the mountain trails, taking in the scenery, playing lots of games, and soaking in the hot tub (oh, yeah). Sure, summer’s right around the corner … but I still need a break.

Truth is, work has been really hard for me this year. I’ve had to find a way to fit back into a culture and system that is both familiar and foreign, to juggle both the-way-things-used-to-be and the-way-things-have-become at the same time. I’ve had more interpersonal conflicts at work this year than ever before, and there were many more days when that ever-elusive joy was simply impossible to find. And the pace itself has been difficult to deal with … sure, I’m slowing down, but I also think there’s just something futile about the rate at which we live.

So yeah … this weekend should be a much needed break from the grind and a chance to be around some pretty fantastic folks. And when I get back, I’m going to take yet another personal day to relax at home with some movies and blankets. If I’m gonna do it, I figure, I might as well do it right.

How about lunch on Monday?

Sometimes people who read my blog tell me that I have strong opinions. Other times they say that I have strong arguments. I tend to disagree with both statements.

I’ll start with the arguments, that one’s simple. Just look at the last few posts and you’ll see that my arguments are anything but strong … they’re usually full of holes, contradicting other people’s experiences and leaving out key factors and variables. I’m not a mathematician or a scientist, and rarely do I really want to “prove” these arguments beyond a shadow of a doubt. My intentions are almost always otherwise (but I’ll leave them to your imagination).

And my opinions? In person, it’s probably easier to tell that I don’t feel nearly as strongly about things as it might seem from my blog posts. I’m very willing to listen to other ideas, and I usually, over time, morph my own opinions to reflect the ideas and experiences that I am exposed to. In fact, the opposite is often true … people sometimes get perturbed because I’m too casual, accepting, or laissez-faire. I simply “don’t care” about some of the things that they really think are important.

So if it’s not strong opinions or arguments, then what’s up? A strong writing style? Arrogance? Not knowing when to say when? Or just plain lunacy? I’m not sure … in fact, I don’t think I have an opinion on that argument.

Anger is always a choice … the wrong choice.

When I look back at what I’ve posted here recently, it’s pretty entertaining … funny stories, interesting photos and videos, and controversial issues. But there seems to be a lack of substance … a turning away from the good stuff.

So enough of that. For the month of May, I’m going to try something new. Every day I’m going to attempt to post something real, something meaningful or genuine. I’m not sure what that’ll look like … maybe personal revelations, hard questions, disturbing stories, hunches from my spirit, or lessons I’ve learned. I’m not going to try to defend or explain them too much … so take them as you will.

And as a reminder, webeldotnet is not me. I know that it’s natural to judge a person by what he says, but there’s always more to what you read here. If you have a question or problem with what I write, just call me … I’m often wrong, and I really appreciate feedback and smackdowns from my friends. It’s good for me … and for our friendship too!

Living in China …
Buying a house …
Becoming a landlord …
Finishing grad school …

No … I don’t want to do my taxes!

I think I learned today that I’m just not good at cutting my losses … I push to the end, hanging onto hope in the bleakest of situations. I can count at least five current scenarios in my life that might reflect this tendency … pressing until others are over the edge, until hope is gone, or until I’ve become absolutely shredded. The problem is … I can’t tell if I’m there or not.

Is this a character flaw or merely a bad habit?

When people say “pick me”, I usually hear “pygmy”.

Yes, I’m still alive.

Well, my attempt to go to church this morning was intercepted by the sixteen inches of snow in my driveway. Yep, Louie’s stuck.

I expected last week’s mission trip to Monterrey to provide a break from school, a chance to have some fun, and an opportunity to see God do some things in my students’ hearts. I didn’t, however, expect to be changed, especially in such a humbling way.

First, I was reminded of the joy that comes through pain. We worked hard down there … on one day alone we hauled over 3,500 buckets of concrete onto the second story of a new building in 100˚ heat. My injuries ranged from a ripped up hand to a nasty eye injury, and just keeping ahead of twenty four fourteen-year-olds (and a language I hadn’t spoken in years) only sharpened the sensations.

But through it all, I felt alive … gloriously breaking and growing and stretching and bleeding. That kind of joy has been hard to find lately, and I sincerely feel that I need to begin actively seeking out ways to sharpen both my body and my mind through “painful” experiences. The deep sleep, the momentum, the leathered skin … it’s just so good.

I was also reminded about how important it is for me to surround myself (and yoke myself) with those who love to serve, with everything they have. This is something I not only value deeply, but also expect to be doing for the rest of my life. And frankly, I think that it’s bad stewardship for me to be investing a lot in people who don’t have the same mindset or focus … it sucks the life out of me and distracts me from doing what I’ve been created to do!

You might say that my vision was replaced by His, both physically and spiritually. Now comes the challenge of walking it out!

Hey. My name’s Lance. You come here often?

• In the past few weeks, I’ve been blessed to stumble upon quite a few new friends here in the ‘Nati. It’s been fun, slowly and cautiously sticking my foot in the door while trying to maintain the delicate balance of time and margin that my sanity desires. Through the process, my heart has been pricked more than once … and I’m already thankful for what I think might develop out of this subtle new spreading-of-the-proverbial-wings. Good stuff, it is.
• I’m sending my stock 18-70mm lens, which was damaged in China, back to Nikon for repair tomorrow. I shouldn’t have waited this long, because in a day and a half I’m traveling yet again to a beautiful country where beautiful things are bound to happen. To compensate, I stopped at a photography store on the way home today and purchased a nice little 18-200mm lens … I was hoping not to drop so many bones, but if it works out, it would actually replace both of my current lenses, a total high-five when it comes to traveling. We’ll put it through its paces next week … in a small way, I’m a little excited to get back behind the lens again!
• “Indeed” seems to be my latest word. I guess that means that the people around me have been saying a lot of smart things lately.
• Nothing new is really happening on the house/lancelord scene … I replaced a doorknob this week and have been keeping ahead of the shoveling needs, and the bills all seem to be getting paid on time. In a way, the winter is nice … it’s a great excuse to put off things like shingle repair and wall painting.
  
• I think that being able to “read people” is sometimes a curse.
• At school, my classes have been going fairly well, but getting behind. Two and a half snow days so far, and it’s looking like tomorrow could potentially be yet another tomorrow is yet another! But I don’t mind … we can roll with it, and I’ve been thankful to be able to have a few lazy mornings lately. Teaching (and its related activity) can really be draining, especially in the winter time!
• Soon enough, track season will be starting … and I’m getting excited. I designed some new uniforms today, and the schedule seems to be coming together as well. It’s gonna be great to get out there again … both for the kids and for my health. It’s been too long!

Well, that’s enough for now. I hope you guys have a great week … I’m off to Mexico to chill with some of my kiddos and watch God move on their hearts. I’ll see you on the flip-side!

By the way, I’m going to Mexico in ten days.

Well, it looks like Christmas vacation is just about over. It’s been good … a few days with family, lots of board games, tons of good food, visiting old friends in Akron, Wooster, Chicago, and Indiana, time to finish moving in, a few special moments with the nephews and nieces, and a chance to mentally “round the corner”.

But now it’s back to the grindstone. I have a few looming projects that I’m going to have to start tackling this week, and I’m not looking forward to it. Too bad I don’t have a choice!