I spent my Friday evening and about half of Saturday at the Honors Program Luau at UK. It was ok I guess, I didn't really know that many people- one girl from western hills, a few gsp people, and one Rexroat who was working at the Cat's Den. I got a lot of new information about the Honors Program which is nice because I knew NOTHING about it. I wasn't even sure if I was in it. Oh, some exciting news! I started someone blogging. Yes, one of my friends read my blog and has now started their own. This has happened a couple of times before but they have already stopped keeping theirs up so I figured maybe if I blogged about Hannah's blog, then she will have to keep on blogging.
I am so excited for Hannah right now- not because she started a blog, but because of what God is doing in her life. She is thinking a lot about God right now and started to seek after Him, realizing that she has kind of strayed away. They most awesome thing about this is the fact that no one really seeks God. Paul quoted from the Psalm's when he said, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God" (Romans 3:10-11). The only way for a person to be "seeking" after God is for the Holy Spirit to be working in their lives. You see, no one seeks after God because we are born sinners. We can do nothing good on our own apart from God- even the "good" things that we try to do apart from God are fueled by our selfish desires to appear "good" to the outside world. (But that's another story). Anyway, the only way that my friend Hannah could be thinking about God so much, is that the Holy Spirit working in her life. God has specifically chosen to cause Hannah's brain to ponder Him. If you'll allow me to use an illustration: God doesn't fish for people with a net- God uses a pole with very specific bait. He doesn't simply cast a huge net out take whatever He gets. He seeks after people and when that happens there's nothing you can do to resist Him.
Wow, that's a really roundabout way of say that but to sum it all up: I can't wait to see how God is going to work in Hannah.

Posting, posting, everyone loves some posting. That has a little tune in my head but since you can't hear me singing it you can't really experience that diddy. You could just make up your own tune I guess. I've been working the past few days at Kroger and it's been a pretty typical week. Busy during the same hours, slow during the same hours. I did, however, bag yesterday. I'm not sure if I am really supposed to but I sure did. I came back in from my break and they didn't want to open up another register. John still had another 25 minutes before he took his break so I bagged for awhile- I even helped some woman out to her care (I think she was some elementary school teacher). It was fun I guess, but I don't care to ever do that again.
I'll tell you what I want to do. I want to play some music with JMB. It seems like it's been forever since we last played. We have a concert coming up this weekend I believe so I'm really looking forward to that. My five string hasn't gotten a whole lot of play since I got the Rickenbacker and I am wanting to play that some more. I'll probably only use the Rickenbacker for one or two songs in JMB just because it's not exactly the sound I'm looking for in that context. (It's still pretty sweet though)
Well, I've got to go to work now. Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go. That one has a tune too but I'm sure most people know that one- so enjoy singing it to yourself, or aloud to the rest of the house.

Here's a picture of me with no hair. Deal wit it.

I'm home as of Sunday night but havne't had a chance to blog due to a studio project in which I was involved. I layed down bass for a song that a friend of my friend Josh wrote for his wife. We recored at Saint Claire Studio in Lexington. Lexington. Can't be that great huh? Well let me tell you- this was the nicest studio that I had ever seen (in person, tv, online, album art). It was insane. The guy who played acoustic guitar used to do a lot of session work and he said that it would be years and years before any of us ever saw anything that nice again- it was definitely the nicest place he had ever played. It was a late night but awesome nonetheless.
Bowling Green. What an awesome weekend! I'm so happy that we were all able to get together and hang out like that. I hadn't seen any of those guys since last summer and it was great to just be around each other again. We went to Mammoth Cave and took a tour of Bowling Green on Saturday (not much to it really) and then went to church at Rich Pond Baptist on Sunday. Rachael had to get back to Louisville for the evening service at her church so we had to leave a little early from Jonathan's house but then I ended up going to church with Rachael. After the service we went over to her boyfriend's house and spent time with some of her friends. I laughed so hard at times that I thought I was going to get sick but then the conversation always came around to spiritual matters. It was so awesome to be around a group of peers that had that sort of mentality- Jesus isn't just an area in their life, he is their life. It was a really great weekend and I hope we can do it again soon.
Facebook. I'm on facebook now- finally gave into all of the peer pressure. Actually, it's a really great way to stay in touch with high school friends throughout college and meet different people who go to your school. So, if you're on facebook, look me up and add me as a friend! That'd be really cool of you.

I am in Bowling Green right now with some GSP friends- good times... good times... We just finished watching The Bourne Identity (well, they did- I slept through most of it) and I think we are about to go to bed, unless Rachael wants to play some cards. Having just slept a few hours, I'm not that tired and I could either go right to bed and be fine or I could stay up for a few more hours and that be alright too. Tomorrow we are going to go to Mammoth Cave and do one of the tours (Frozen Niagra maybe?). I'm really looking forward to it since I haven't ben in years and these people are really cool.

I'm in the mood to listen to Broadway musicals right now. So... I'm listening to The Last 5 Years. Ok, actually it's an off-broadway show but it'll do. The cast consist of one man and one woman and the play takes place over a five year period- two and a half of dating and then two and a half of marriage and break up. The man tells the story from forwards to backwards starting with the moment they first met and the woman tells the story backwards, starting from the moment the break up. They sing the middle song together when their stories meet as they get married. The music is really amazing with piano, fretless bass, strings, and a few horns I believe. I hope I'll get to see this play in the future but I'm not sure how much longer it will be touring. Oh well...
Andrew was the first to receive his prize today as he stolled through my lane at Kroger buying some food. I'm not going to reveal what he got, but let's just say that he won't be forgetting it any time soon. Don't you want to come now and receive your reward? Just come through my lane, mention the blog, and get yours. But... I won't be there until next week sometime. Probably tuesday. This weekend I'm going to hang out with some GSP friends in Bowling Green- woohoo! I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Alright all you faithful blog readers out there: Today marks the beginning at a competition. What game you ask? Well if you would just keep reading and quit pausing to ask such questions you would find out shortly. As you all know, I work at Kroger. I am there a lot and that is why most of my blogs have something to do with Kroger. I am offering a prize to the first person to come through my lane (to buy something) and mention this post. All you have to do is come through (while buying something) and mention that you read the post about the competition. I am giving away some fabulous prizes to the first 5 people to complete this task. The prize may be a cruise... or it may be a handshake and a pat on the back. Considering my current job and salary I'm sure you can imagine what kind of prize this will be. But, it's a prize nonetheless. So next time you're in Kroger, pick up some produce, come stand in my line, say "Hey Derek, I read about your competition on the blog), and receive your fabulous prize. I'll give an extra bonus to whoever beats my mom to my lane. She's in Kroger a lot so be on your toes. I'll be there tomorrow from 8:30- 2:30 and Thursday from 3:15- 8:30 (random hours, I know). Let the games begin!
Oh, some woman left a mop in my lane tonight. She paid for it but just walked off without it. Miss, if you're reading this, go to Kroger and get yourself that mop. You know you can't mop the kitchen floor without that new mop.
See you at Kroger!

This post is almost blank...

Apparently if you show up to a movie with only three people in the whole place they will give you a raincheck and tell you to go home and come another day. Who Knew?

Monday, monday... What a great day of the week! It's right after Sunday but still right before Tuesday. I mean, honestly, could Monday be any greater? I'm not sure if any of that makes sense but you had to read it anyway... so there.
It was a pretty busy day at kroger. From about 4-6 we were SWAMPED! At least it wasn't boring I guess. That's a good way to look at it. If no one comes through my line then I get pretty bored so it's nice to have something to do. I had to work the Express lane today for about 3 hours. It would get pretty slow so I would take a big order through my line (maybe 30 items). And as soon as I would start ringing it all up, a "real" express person would get in line so I'd feel terrible for ruining the purity of the express lane by allowing a large order to sneak into the line. Oh well, I guess they'll get over it.
Ok, here's the rant of the day. This one has been stewing for about a week now and I'm finally rady to bring it to light. If you come through my line and you are paying via EBT (foodstamps)... TELL ME! Nowadays, ebt is on a credit card. It's a lot easier to keep up with and all you have to do is swipe a card in order to pay for your food. People with ebt usually assume that I can look at them and automatically tell that they will be using ebt to pay. If they are using ebt, I have to hit the foodstamp button, then total, then the button that allows you to scan the card. I think it says ESV but I'm not sure... that may just be my bible translation... ANYWAY... If you don't tell me that it's ebt I don't hit the foodstamp button and then I have to cancel it all out and make the person swipe the card again. Sure, it only takes about 15 more seconds if we make this mistake... but it's the principal of the whole thing. Why can't you just tell me that it's foodstamps huh? Before you swipe the care just say "EBT". That's all you have to tell me. Sometimes I get lucky and I get a glimpse of the card before they start to pay- the front looks like an American flag. So that is helpful. But, it's not helpful that some other credit card companies feel the need to put the American flag on the front of their cards. So the moral of this rant is... just tell me if you are using ebt ok? Thank you.
I'm going to see the Pirate movie again tonight with David. There was some stuff in the first viewing that I didn't catch and I was a little lost at times. David's been wanting to see it sense the first time he saw it too, he loved it. It'll be nice to hang out with David- he was at church camp all last week so I'm sure there's some catching up to do.

Hair For Sale! Hair For Sale! To help put myself through college I have decided to put my hair up for sale. Anyone interested in purchasing a lock or two should contact me. But please, no wierd-o's or stalkers.

I just cut my hair... short.

I'm off for the next three days from Kroger. I think they are trying to get rid of me. Perhaps they've discovered my plot to take over the world... one Kroger at a time. It is really a genious plot. Think of the millions of people who shop at Kroger. If I had control of the Krogers I could control all of those people. It's just a shame that Kroger doesn't exist all over the world... or the country for that matter. Oh well. Maybe I should seek employment at McDonalds. Now there is a franchise worth controlling. You all just wait and see- in a matter of a few years you'll all be eating at McDereks and listening to subliminal messages played over the radio inside. I will have the world at my finger tips and there's nothing you can do to stop me... Bwah ha ha ha ha! Bwah ha ha ha ha!
Maybe I should quit posting at night. All of my night posts turn out odd...

Man... this bass is sweet. This new bass is just really cool. I can't even begin to describe how excited I am to have this bass. There is one small problem which you would find with any bass of this age- the electronics are a little dirty. This means that over the years dust, dirt, and rust have all built up inside the input jacks of the bass so that when it is plugged in, it cuts in and out. It should be easily solved with a quick trip up to Wilcutt guitars in Lexington. I went there the other day to ask about a price for the work and they said it would only be around 15 dollars to that's cool. I'll probably try to take that in next thursday so that they can look at it.

Today I spent a large portion of the day in Campbellsville with family. It was great seeing everybody and eating some awesome burgers. The cookout is definitely my favorite part of the holiday. But, I ended up eating so much watermelon (4032) that I thought I was going to puke. I'm sure it would've been just as good on the way back up as it was going down!
So tomorrow I get the bass. I'm not officially the owner tomorrow but Jeff (the current owner) is going to bring it to church so that I can take it and try it out. Although I am almost positive that I am going to buy the bass, there is a slight chance that I may hate it and not want to spend the money... but I doubt it. I'll probably play it a few days and then pay for it on Sunday. That is the plan anyway. I'll let you know how I like it tomorrow. Man, I'm excited!

Today is a big day. Today was the first day that someone did not forgot something when I was in the express line! I know, I know... you are all quite impressed but please all applause and questions until the end. So, I work the express line a lot and on the express line there is no bagger... I am the bagger. Yes, that's right. Two jobs, one line, one paycheck. Not cool. But anyway, the bags are all stationed on a turning contraption so that when one bag is full, you simply turn the thing and fill up another bag. As the bags sit there I usually forget about one or two of them until the person is already out the door and then I have to deal with the bags from there. One time a woman called back because I had kept two dozen eggs while she left- don't worry, she came back the next day to get some more. But today, nothing of the sort went down. Oh, wait. Ok, so one woman forgot her salad... but she came back withing five minutes to reclaim it. So there. We will now open the floor for questions. Anyone... anyone... Well- I see that you are all amazed at my cashiering skills.
Don't worry, I have an instructional video series coming out next month so you (Yes, You!) can become a cashier too! You'll learn the lingo! You'll learn the codes! You'll learn how to make small talk and how to pick up the single women who just came in to buy some milk! Three videos for only $49.99! Yes, you heard me right! Only $49.99! But wait- that's not all! If you call within the next 12 minutes I'll send you not one, not two, but three of your very own Kroger shirts! You can look like an authentic cashier anytime you want. So, whenever you go in for that big interview, they can see that you're the real deal with your real Kroger shirt. So don't delay! Get on the phone and dial right now! 1-800-Cashier.
I think I may be on to something here...

Ok Ok OK. So the whole deal about not working for college money was not entirely true. I do need college money and working at Kroger is a good way to get it. Another good way to get money is by donations from nice, friendly, generous blog readers. Don't you think so? Anyone dying to donate to the Derek Needs College Money Fund (DNCMF) can mail me cash, a check, or your bank account information and I can take care of everything. But anyway... a new bass would be great to buy with Kroger money but my dream bass will have to wait a little while longer because... (insert your own trumpet sounds here, you know, the kind that goes on the intro to movies or a great unveiling of a wonder)... I'm getting a new bass! Ok, not actually a new bass. It actuality it is quite an old bass- 9 years older than me! Think about that. This "new" bass was pretty used when I was in diapers! I will soon be purchasing a 1978 Rickenbacker 4001 from a church friend who's looking to clear some clutter out of his house. The Rickenbacker has a very distinct sound and he hasn't found much use for it in the past years. I'll be getting it Wednesday to try it out and make sure I want to buy it so I'm pretty excited about that. Hmm, I guess that's about all I have to say right now.