And, like, a week later...

I know. I'm abysmally behind with my e-memoirs. But what can I say? We all knew I would be less than completely punctual. So, to fill you in, I'm giving you a quick overview of the last week.

Monday
We had a relaxing day, chilling at home, as the temperature started to increase. We went over to Danny and Sheri Silk's house (the parents-in-law of my host) for a Father's Day barbecue, in which I was taught the meaning of the word 'barbecue' as it pertains to the flavouring of meat. Extremely delicious.

Tuesday
I learned the distinct difference between American Television, with its shameless advertising, commercialism and endless ream of Judg Judy spin-offs, and Australian Television, which, while not being completely righteous, is at least presented in High Definition! But i am realizing the lack of subtlety in American TV, and also, they must have had some strange law passed that allows them to slander and compare other brands by name... It's a little bit concerning.

Ah well.

Wednesday
Today was the beginning of a 3 Day conference entitled 'On Earth as it is in Heaven', which is run at Bethel, a large church in Redding. For those of you who know Lindell Cooley, he led the praise and worship in the meetings. Which was a great deal of fun.

The entry fee for the conference was $75, but I managed to shirk this cost by volunteering as a Security man. You heard me. SECURITY. I was only able to do this because Ben and Brittney (my hosts) and I are friends with the chief of Security at the church. He was looking for extra hands, and I was only too willing to help, especially as it meant I got the black t-shirt and everything. So that was fun.

Thursday
Sort of more of the same. I got up very early, as I had moved into Delani's room (my almost-one-year-old roommate), so you can imagine how late I'm sleeping in. NOT!
Anyways, I got up early and arrived at the church for 9:30 am, and began checking people's tags, and stopping anyone from enetering the auditorium with foods and drinks other than water.
It was a good day, and the speakers were fantastic. The night meeting was led by a speaker called James Maloney. I was veyr excited to see him praying for people, and literally watch them get healed.
There was a man there who came up for prayer. And James Maloney began to tell him exactly what God had shown him was wrong in the man's body. Andn the man's wife confirmed that it was indeed the case. So after he was prayed for, the man told us the he was healed.
He didn't look much different to me. Nor, it seems, to anyone else. But when he was asked why he thought he was healed, he spoke loudly into the microphone and said "Well, for starters - I had a stroke three years back, and couldn't even speak!"
He had a big grin on his face, and it was pretty amazing to see the change in his face and to have him speak! God is pretty amazing.

Friday
After getting home quite late from the conference, waking up at 6:00am the next morning took me by surprise. I awoke with a throbbing in the back of my head. And I knew the symptoms of extremely tired eyes. I stayed home from the conference on Friday, and worked on some of my design jobs.
I cooked lunch for myself at home. A strange American delicacy known as "Mac & Cheese." This is shorthand for Macaroni and cheese, I am told. But after stirring the miniature noodles for 7 to 9 minutes, and mixing the fluoroescent orange contents of a packet ominously marked 'Cheese Sauce mix' with milk and butter, and stirring thoroughly into the noodles, the result was the dish you see before you – so far from the delicious vision of Macaroni and Cheese that I had pictured in my ravenous state. I had dreamed of bacon bits, and white sauce, poured over perfectly cooked pasta, dusted slightly with parmesan cheese, and topped with parsley. But it was not meant to be.
Ben and Brittney both decided to stay home that afternoon as well. Delani hasn't been too well, and that afternoon, she had a high fever of 104. So instead of the fun things we had planned for the evening, we ended up just trying to reduce Delani's temperature, and helping her get to sleep.
Levi Silk, and a girl called Mackenzie Cooper came over for dinner, to hang out. We had fun just chatting.

Saturday
The big day. It was Brittney's 21st! Ben had some special plans for the evening, to take Brittney for a helicopter ride around Redding, up to the lake and back. Then go on to the fanciest restaurant in town, The Maritime. So she was scheduled to go and get her hair and make-up done by a friend. And she'd purchased a new dress and everything.
So in the morning, we went again to the Silks house for a delicious breakfast, to celebrate. I bought Britt a Disney/Pixar Monopoly board game. They have a complete lack of games of any kind, so I started their collection. Delani approves, too, as it involes characters from Finding Nemo. (which she will happily watch 17 times a week)
They went off for their special night, and I hung out with Taylor & Levi, at Danny and Sheri's house. We swam in their pool, and just chilled.
I say chilled, but in the not-entirely-accurate sense of the word. Redding is currerntly experiencing record-breaking weather right now. It never gets this hot in June, they tell me.
Yesterday was forecast as reaching 111• Fahrenheit, (43• Celsius), but instead it soared up to 114•F, which puts it at 46•C. How's that for Summer?
Redding doesn't believe in cool changes, though, as it is situated far away from sea breezes up in the mountains. So it's pertty constant heat. I'm enjoying it though, and slowly getting a tan.

Anyways, to finish the story. We had hamburgers for dinner, and rented a bunch of movies to watch. Ben and Britt got home at 9:45, to tell us about what a great night they'd had. Except for one thing – when they got to the airfield, the helicopter never showed up! They had to go to the restaurant early, and bump up their reservation. So disappointing.
They said that they still had fun anyway, but who wouldn't be crushed if they were stood up by a Helicopter pilot?

Ah well, I guess there are other major birthdays to celebrate.
And there's always the Fourth of July in a week or so! I am looking forward to it immensely.

Alrighty. That's all for now. Talk to you soon,


Joel
– That there is the strangest meal I ever done ate!