Brain Art

Josiah and I shared a morning shift at Mud Bay yesterday. It was a slow and steady day, not much excitement as far as coffee goes (I simultaneously hope for and dread an overwhelming, adrenaline pumping rush of people. One that requires ground espresso war-painted on my cheeks and leaves the shop completely destroyed). The last hour of our shift was dragging by particularly slow until one of our friendly regulars, Galen Radtke, came through the door. He carried a board with him that looked like some kind of mosaic artwork. Immediately, our interest was sparked.

Our first guess wasn't completely off the mark- the piece is artwork in part. I would argue, in fact, it's closer to "art" than the heart I poured into Galen's cappuccino. It's also a game. The working title, Galen says, is Tic-Tac-Toss. A very different game with the same title does already exist, so he also says to let him know if we think of any awesome names.The game is seriously awesome, and I'm not sure I'm up to the task to be honest.

These Xs (who shall not be named) are about to get beat by these Os.

Long story short, Tic-Tac-Toss is a complex version of the simple game (you guessed it) Tic-tac-toe. Just like the original, each player is either X's or O's and exchanges turns placing their respective letter in the hopes of getting three in a row or preventing their opponent from doing so. This is where the similarities end. Instead of paper and pencil, you have a game board and pieces. The pieces are illustrated with a small version of a Tic-tac-toe board and a directional arrow. The arrows illustrate the direction the opposing player's piece must slide on the board. Three in a row can be achieved anywhere on the board, but pieces can only be placed in the red center. The result is an intricate puzzle experience; both eye-candy and brain-food.

Galen has been playing Tic-tac-toss with people for a few months, gathering feedback and working in new ideas. Now on his third prototype, it's advanced beyond the idea phase to a beautifully made, well executed game. Not to mention, it's ridiculously fun. Josiah and I played at least four times. Galen spent just a few minutes explaining the concept and rules, then sat aside to occasionally officiate. From the first piece we placed, our brains were being tested.  

Josiah fervently places an X with Kendal and Galen's encouragement.

While Josiah and I battled, we discussed Galen's plans for the game. I mentioned that it would make a neat I-Phone app, but Galen's response was even better. Inspired by games like chess, which can be carried around and played anywhere, the most recent Tic-Tac-Toss prototype includes a hidden, cut out space to store game-pieces. "I want it to be a game you can play in the park," he said. He envisions making the board and pieces out of wood, and burning in the details. He doesn't want to lose the aesthetic aspect of the colors in his current prototype, however, so we discussed different ways to include them. My favorite idea was a cloth board and tile pieces. The cloth would double as a satchel to carry the pieces. Since they're tile, the pieces would hold down the board on windy days at the park. 

Galen, the creator and designer of Tic-Tac-Toss.

Galen pointed out an aspect of community in his game that I'm sure he didn't overlook. Rather than a game that can be played alone or against a computer, his creation thrives on friendship. When two people sit down to play Tic-Tac-Toss, they share an experience that's growing more rare as the technology age advances. The sheer inventiveness of the game puts the players in the position to learn together. Beyond this, it's a chance to interact with, discuss, re-think, and co-create a piece of art. 

      *The game-board and pieces in the above images, along with all written descriptions and rules, are the copyright property of Galen Radtke.

Nix Boredom and Love Your Neighbors In 4 Easy Steps

God inspired and supplied.
Click image for a much larger and more easily read view.

Someone Planned This...

Last Thursday, in continuation with the previous week's lesson on plans, did not go as expected. Once again, Jeremiah and I found ourselves alone at Capitol Lake. This time was our fault, to an extent. But I contend our situation could not have been avoided. We were set up I tell you. 

Usually, we sit around Moon Base with nothing to do until our pals show up to prayer walk. This week I figured, why not make music at the park while we wait. I planned - or perhaps imagined would be more accurate - to start the evening off with Jeremiah. We'd jam and sing, and as our friends showed they'd join. Once everyone was gathered we'd set out on our walk with our hearts focused and our spirits high.

Problem was, I didn't properly convey my imagined plan to anyone. I did mention my thoughts to Kendal and Winter early on in the week. At that point though, it was more of a: Wouldn't it be cool if we had a jam sesh at the park... than a: Meet us at the park before the prayer walk. I realized this just after Jeremiah and I found ourselves a comfy spot in the grass and discovered that neither of us had phones.

Since we were already set and ready to make noise, we decided to wait and see if anyone would show. I was hoping the vague informaiton I mentioned to Winter and Kendal would make them curious enough to come to the lake. Once there, our loud and anti-melodic sounds would lure them towards us. After waiting 15 minutes or so, we started to feel a little nervous and impatient. So, we got to praying. "We call forth our friends in Jesus name," we said. "Carry these sound waves to their ears and inspire them to move toward us." We determined to wait what we felt was 30 minutes and if we were still alone, we'd head home. The night was young still and we hoped to rally the troops for a walk before dark.

Moments after we concluded our remaining time at the lake was limited, Jeremiah squinted into the distance behind me. "Is that Dave?" he asked. I could just make out a man with long gray hair. Without thinking, I waved. The man waved back and started walking our way. "Is that you guys?" Dave asked. What a funny coincidence, we thought.

"I don't usually come here when I want a walk, but I felt like I needed to," Dave explained. "And I would have parked sooner but none of the spots felt right, ya know?" By dusk, the three of us were still chatting merrily away. Dave is Josiah's dad. He's been a missionary for at least 30 years and has been witness to some incredible works of God. Josiah has invited him to a few Bible studies and my mind gets blown every time. Our conversation that evening ranged from miraculous healings, to why we've disassociated from the church; from raising the dead, to Wee Todd's giant, hand-made djembe (if I can acquire a picture of this, I will most certainly add it).

As it so happens, Jeremiah and I are getting married at the end of the month. It also so happens that Dave came to Bible study last Tuesday, where we dropped the not so subtle hint (coaxed by Josiah) that we would be ultra stoked if he would marry us. Since Jeremiah and I happened to be alone at the lake, it was an excellent opportunity for Dave to sling disarming questions at us like, "So why do you want to get married?" I semi-believe this was retaliation for putting him on the spot at Bible study.

After several minutes of long-winded stammering to express simply, we love each other, we noticed the time and remembered the prayer walk. By now, it seemed official that no one else was coming and that it was too late for a walk. Dave was on his way to visit a friend before he veered our way; our time was coming to an end. The whole experience was incredibly refreshing. I couldn't get over how happy the very air felt - like an incredible weight I didn't realize I'd been carrying had been lifted from my shoulders. Jeremiah started to explain the sensation he was feeling, but couldn't quite find the words. As a last ditch effort, he started to say "It's like..." and then a light flicked on behind his eyes. "We were set up."

We parted ways with hugs and perma-grins. Jeremiah and I have been glowing all week. It's amazing the effect a good conversation can have on the soul. This has been an oddly difficult Thursday evening to write about. I was so excited I wanted to get this posted the very next day, but it's taken me all week to find the words and the time to write. My hope is that all who read this will find themselves similarly "set up" in the near future.

tusdaynite at Moon Base (Godstory talk)

so it is the after hours of tusday, just got home from Moon Base, now siting on the foor of my room with Alistair my cat and cold one listenting to some hardstyle with insents burning.

so another nite of whut we call Bible study tnite we finished up chapter 5 of Acts and u know whut as far as our talking whent we rilly didnt davel much in the text we wher going thru we ended up just talking about other random subject like (i rilly wonder whut Jesus's life wus like growing up like, wus he more in the state of Adem and Eve thu his life, or wus he simply purfict) you know that kinda stuf.. one thing that wus a kicker for us wus this dood named Gamilal tord the end of chapter 5. he wus prity much a dood who wus respected buy the entire city, the context of whut hapend is just that the tempel leaders wanted to kill the apostels becus they wher cosing the masses to tern away from the old law (religen). but wut wus cool wus whut Gamilal sed.. in a nut shel he told the tempel leaders that they shouldent kill the apostels becus if whut they wher doing wus of human desires then it would fail inevidubly, so thers no need to kill them, and if its somthing actuly of God then if they kill the apostels they are fiteing agenst God, and lets be onist if God is owly a sliver of whut we can conjer up Him to being then it probly isnt a good idea to fite with Him...

in a nutshel if its not of God it will enevitably fail at some point even without our interaction, and if it is of God then ther is no stoping it.

after our (Godstory talk) and the food the amazing Claire made wich wus salmen noodels and a tipe of sweet peper saus. along with wut i beleav wus a basl and lemon maraing and our usual close to 45 minets of just siting and talking with God praying for eachother and others in our lives. we satdown and watched an episode of startreck and a bit of futcherama then it wus bed time for the lot of us.. except me.. iv got tomaro off so il be up for a wile ... probly guna finish my beer play a little portal 2 or pokemon befor bed... hopfuly hang out with Jery tmaro being that we both hav the day off ... we'l se wuts in store ....

goodnite all

Construction Underway

I'm learning about new possibilities in the blogging world. So, I'll be doing some re-designing and creating in the next few days. Apologies in advance if you find yourself in a confusing experience like clicking on a page that leads you to nothing. I'll do my best to make these changes happen quick. I think they're going to be neat!

sunday times

so most of the time we all get together and hav dinner sunday nites at The Keep and kinda just chill and hang out its more of a party most of the time.. well tday wus my day off and i took liberty of that buy playing pokemon for qwite a wile befor i gave Claire a call to let her know whut wus going down with dinner for the nite, i had maid dough the other day and figurd i could make some pizza. and i did just that.. after geting drest and the sorts i whent and got esspresso from Mudbay and heded to The Coop aka the Olympia Food Co-op a local groshry store wher i do my shoping. half the fun of going ther is the very crowded enviroment full of very interesting caricters meny (excuse me) and (im just guna sqweez by)s are exchanged along with a smyel and goofy little shufel, but after hangeing around ther for a good hour paking my bag with multipul nesesitys and filling jars with bulk foods i cheked out with my as usual qwite perky cashir i stuffed evrything into the sadel on my scooter holding the exses in my bag over my sholder as i vencherd home to get started on dinner .....

so a few hours hav past and tday ther is ownly the compony of Claire, Kaylani, Jossy, and me theres usuly around 8 people at The Keep sunday nites but some wher sick and others wer at work.. so three pizzas wer split between the 4 of us one of wich i wus qwite fond of containting whole weat dough, a herb oil saus, mozarella, amish gorganzola, parmisan, brind olivs, whole clove garlic, carmilzed red onyon, salamie from a local farm, and pine nuts.. oh my gosh freeking good stuf.. we'r all prity much foodys so good food and lots of it is one of our things ... i love eating with all thees folk i find this act of us eating together a core thing that has brot us all together, i understand whut comunian is and that it is somthing Jesus told us to do often, but in all onisty the act of comunaly eating a meal with others is so much more spirtchuly filling then eating a peas of pre cut bred diped in sum nasty grape juice.. we partake in comunion buy comunaly feeding eachother and eating together close to if not evry day. partaking in comunan i would say is a big part of whut we do together

Oly Walk 3: A Change in Plans

Our usual prayer walk didn't go according to plan last week and I can't say I'm upset. Recently I've realized something about myself I may end up needing to work on. I loathe making plans; Avoid the task with every ounce of willpower in my body. For whatever reason, the thought of making a decision (or multiple decisions as plans tend to require) in advance makes me squirm. I can't imagine being the same person in the future that I am today. Why would I want to decide a path for a future self that will inevitably have more experience and new interests than my present self? Even more so, however, I can't stand deviating from my plans once they're made. It's so incredibly painful to make the plan in the first place that not following it through feels like murder.With this in mind, you can imagine my initial attitude toward the unexpected change in last Thursday's agenda. As I said though, I'm not even a little upset. Anymore.

Thursday afternoon Jeremiah and I sat in the living room at Moon Base waiting for our crew to arrive. It was  a gorgeous day and we were excited to take advantage of this rare sighting of the sun. As we waited, we got a few texts in response to an earlier reminder/invite we sent out that started to worry us. We sat around another hour to give any stragglers time to show up, but no one came. At this point we were disappointed. And grumpy about our disappointment. A prayer walk was not in line with this mood of ours.

Every Thursday evening Reality, the church who's parking lot we commandeer whenever we park downtown, holds a church service. I suggested we head there before our walk and get in on some worship. My hope was that a good song and some wiggling would lift our spirits. Jeremiah and I have an aversion to the whole idea of "church" being confined to a building. It comes from past experiences at church, and our present experience with Oly Acts. Anyway, the idea of going to a "church" made us even my grumpy. The idea of worship enticed us though. We set out for the park by Capitol Lake with our Bibles, guitar, and djembe in hand.

For the next hour or so, we sat in the grass and sang to God. For inspiration, we flipped through Psalms until we found something to relate to. A chapter caught Jeremiah's eye so we made the verses rhyme and he made up a guitar tune. I sang or drummed along as I felt inclined. We began with that gloom cloud still hanging over us. Singing sounded far from thrilling, but we did it anyway. After singing long enough to feel our hearts grow content, we found a new Psalm. By the end, our skies were sunny again. We sang loud, out of key, out of rhythm, and full of joy. If we could have continued to read our Bibles in the dark I doubt we would have stopped.

As we packed up our gear and moseyed back to our car, my phone rang. Kendal was calling to find out our whereabouts. "See you in about three minutes," he said after I explained. Kendal and Josiah arrived at our car the same time we did. Turns out there was a latte art throw down at Espresso Parts that evening. Considering that majority of Oly Acts consists of baristas, it was no wonder the crew hadn't shown up at Moon Base. A glance at my phone would have told me this, but in my gloomy mood I'd tossed my phone aside and chosen to ignore it.

Before we went home, Josiah, Kendal, Jeremiah, and I walked down to 4th Ave for a hot dog at Jake's. Great walk, amazing chat. We even sang songs on the way back to our car (by we I mean mostly Jeremiah and Kendal). Overall, the evening was enlightening. I learned that A) I can't sing and drum at the same time. No way no how. And B) Plans are neither necessary nor trivial. If they can be avoided, I plan to avoid them. If they can be broken, I plan to break them. But if the opportunity presents itself to devise a plan that will give me peace of mind and something to work toward, then I plan to devise to my heart's content. I can't rationalize this any further, but I stand behind what I've written. Now, to see if I can follow my own advice.

umm so yea

this will now be my new venu of sharing things with others via the interweb..

to let you know i cant spell, i dont know how to use puktuashen ect.

so heer we go

iv bin in an odd mood the past week, dont rilly know how to explain it rilly, iv just bin overly tyerd and exsosted i cant seem to eat enuf food and my sleep seshens havnt bin all to grate.

so tday after a long day at the shop aka Mud Bay Coffee's westside Cafe i whent over to Moonbass Kaylani, Jerimia, Kaylin and Claire's home for our weekly Bible study, i wus exseptionitly tyerd and hadnt eaten all that graitly that day so i wus esenchly shutdown for the most part. the study if you could call it such a thing wus qwite lively we wher going thru Acts 5 of wich we ownly made it to vurs 17 or so becus of how much talk and discushen and qweshechens wher posed to the famly, im not the tipe to talk much at all, im more of the listioning tipe. and that is whut i did tnite i sat and observed the comglomeration of our get together. Jery would read 2, maybe 5 verses if we wher lucky and then a descushen would insoo wich would often bring about moltipul tangens and storys about from most evryone giving ther 2 sence about whut they thot about whutever wus just read ... alltogether it wus an extra lively nite.. when we wher finished we spent a good 45 min in prayr just talking aloud and voicing our conserns and soal desires to our Father (thats allways is my favret part of the nite).. afterword we kinda just hung out and chilled me and Jerry shared a pipe outside on the steps befor going back indoor for a little Startreck...

and now im not to sher whut im rily geting at .. whel im guna go t bed now .. goodnite