After years of meandering around the freelance scene for web content, I am excited to break into legitimate print publication with a piece in the July/August issue of Camp Business magazine! Their publication is among the select few that we receive at my workplace, Camp Manitoqua, for its industry-relevant insights and information. In addition to their lovely print edition, they have a digital version available online for free as well. My article concerns the difference between a good facilitator and a great facilitator, in terms of climbing wall/ropes course facilitation.

Warm fuzzies.

Follow Camp Manitoqua & Retreat Center and Camp Business Magazine on Twitter.

In case you didn’t know: Jesus Christ died on a cross for your sins. Just sayin’. The Good News, though, is that he conquered death (and thus, your sins) and rose again, allowing you to take full, free advantage of His sacrifice in your place so that you can spend eternity with ‘im. Pretty cool, huh?

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The word “aftermath” has such a negative connotation. Which is fine. The literature-lovin’ part of me would love to believe it is because of the “math” in there, but I know that’s not the case.

So me and Molly drove down to my hometown homestead in Indianapolis for Easter weekend, meaning we got to spend quality time with my parents, my sister and her husband, and a few assorted other friends and family.

These trips are great, although they do usually manage to stir up some of the silt (not dirt, necessarily, see?) in the lower bits of my soul.

I overthink things. I consider questions such as: Is it healthy to consider one’s past and reflect accordingly, or better to stray from the path of reflection altogether?

Not that there was anything especially disconcerting to, in retrospect, consider. In fact, this was an intriguing trip, in terms of its relevance to my modern life, especially as a new homeowner. I, finally, after over three years of having moved out now, got to clean out my old bedroom closet and dresser. A trash bag of junk thrown away, a box or two of books to let me parents decide whether to keep or take to Half Price Books, several containers of stuff I wanted (including my old DVD/VCR player, w00t), and the dresser and the shelving atop it.

I suppose I am growing to enjoy re-arranging furniture, as my projects tonight are simply to re-situation my bedroom in the house in a for-the-next-few-months configuring that will include the dresser, while also moving the desk and possibly another fixture or two into what will be my office, now that there is room for it, since the aforementioned haphazardly assembled wooden bedframe is removed.

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I run the Twitter account at Camp Manitoqua, and we got five new followers over Easter weekend without any sort of promotional visibility. Sweet. I am greatly looking forward to when our newsletter goes out, including the Twitter notice, and we will finally have a mainstream outlet in which we voiced “hey, we have a Twitter account” to our mailing list. I believe I have always been realistic in my expectations for the account, in that I honestly do realize we are not going to gain dozens in the next few weeks, but I do look forward to seeing how I can (continue to) apply the lessons I learn in my freelancing promotional activities to my actual full-time workplace responsibilities as well.

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Speaking of freelancing, let’s outro on an article of mine I recently was e-mailed about, somewhat complimented on, and had forgotten I ever wrote but, now, in re-reading it, despite the typos actually do enjoy: The Internet as a Force for Change. Even if it de-emphasizes the initial implication (utilizing the web as a vessel for social justice and other beneficial means), I always enjoy a good technology discussion, despite my stark absence of qualifications and technical knowledge.

So in one bedroom there was this crude wooden bedframe haphazardly bolted together and bolted to the wall. There were lathed legs on two-by-fours with insert pieces that a plywood piece sat on, all cobbled together all bolty bolty.

I really should have taken pictures. Meh.

Basically, I got out my trusty ratchet set and started crankin’ on those bolts to gradually screw ‘em out, one by one. By the end of the job, I had had to use a few different heads, two flashlights, and a hammer.

Took more time and elbow grease than I anticipated, but the task is completed! Now I can use that room for my office — complete with a desk graciously given to me by the Boomsmas.

I will be the first to admit that I am not the handiest guy, and that I have always been more of a creative person than a practical one; but, in working with my hands, in feeling some pain and aches, I always admire the practicality. Tonight, among some tiny little practical lessons I learned, I also received some romanticized insights concerning such crude work, such as the smell that metal released when it is scored and scoured. It is a wonderful thing, like the steel is bleeding when exerted. Poetic, even.

I consider this act tonight to be a milestone because it marks the first real action I can consider to be “home improvement,” one that required tools, and one that made me feel like I still had at least a little of my masculinity intact.

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I love spending time in the house.

Even if it is doing things like removing a weird bedframe, doing dishes, and doing laundry, the novelty has certainly not yet worn off. I yearn for it, appreciate it, and admit that sometimes at my desk at work I know I would rather be at the house. At least, until something distracts me.

I suppose that can be one sign that this is really becoming home.

Got Internet access at the house last night. Expect blog posts to update much more frequently now, haha.