Nevermore

So I was laying in bed yesterday morning when I get a knock on my door. It was strange for a number of reasons. One it was 7 A.M. Two it was a single knock. Three it was 7 A.M. in the morning. So I get out of bed put on some clothes and hope whoever is at my door has a good reason for waking me up. There are only a few things in life that make me immediately pissed off. One of those is being woken up for a stupid reason. (another one is when the hot dog bun breaks in half, seriously that makes me so cross) So I open the door and no one is there. I was livid. Not only did I get out of bed and put on clothes but it is freezing and no one is there. I got back to bed super angry trying to figure out who would ding dong ditch me at 7 A.M. I go to work trying to figure out who the funny guy is. As I return home I notice something in front of my door. I look closer and there is a dead bird in front of my place. Yes a stupid bird flew into my door not only killing itself but far worse waking me up. Am I saying that my sleep is more important than that poor bird's life? YES!!! I hate most animals but birds are right up there with horses in my list of useless animals.

Later, JG

All I do is win

So tonight ended my perfect driving record. For over three years I hadn't been in an accident or pulled over at all. That is saying a lot because in high school I drove my dad's 1994 minivan and that thing was perfect for burnouts and drag racing. I didn't need a speedometer because every time it hit 80mph the entire thing would shake, so that one time I got it up to 110mph you would have thought the van had Parkinson's disease. But anyway tonight I was on my way back from Christmas shopping in Faytown with Lexie and I got pulled over. I run through everything I'm going to say in my mind and I roll down the window and its a female cop. She tells me that I was going 80 in a 65. That was such crap because I was only going 75 and I told her the cruise control was on and set at 70. She takes my license and other information and then it gets weird. She comes back and she was like "You need to get a new license" I said "Its not expired, are you talking about the crack in it?" She replies "Nope your face is a lot cuter in life than the picture on your license." She then asks me where I go to school and where I'm from, where I work, whose car am I driving just really personal questions. She gives me a warning after I play the NLR card, and tells me to be careful in my girlfriends car. Okay how did she know Lexie was my girlfriend? It was a weird night. As I look back it all makes sense. Favre has always been my favorite NFL player. His first season was the year I was born and we both ended our streak tonight. He hadn't missed a game, I had never gotten pulled over. This had to be an act of God.

I would just like to apologize to J Ho and AC and the 5 girls from their house who came out to NLR the other week and Garret and myself left in the west 40 haha. Sorry that was rude of us.

When I first started this blog is was all about having fun and just getting memories written down to look back at. Now I feel so much pressure when I write. Not only do I have 19 followers but millions of others who read this but don't follow. Not to mention my girl AP reads this to all of her sorority sisters in Texas. I can't be witty and hilarious all the time, it takes a toll on my health trying to please everyone. I mean pretty much everyone in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Alaska read this. Oh well its the price I have to pay.

In case anyone is interested Get him to the Greek is not a good date movie with Lexie Garret and Beth. What is even worse is instead of finishing the movie Garret decides to jump in the creek. Yes myself and G-love jumped in Flint creek on a brisk December night, why are boys so dumb in front of girls? Oh yeah because we are awesome!

Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye- Helen Keller. Oh the irony.

Later, JG

I whip my hair back and forth

Over the last two weeks I have gotten the opportunity to travel to 4 different colleges to assist Rhett in recruiting summer staff for the 2011 summer.

OSU- While we recruit we have a display with pictures, brochures that explain what we do during the summer, and candy. Lots and lots of candy. It's difficult to find quality Christians at a secular university such as Oklahoma State, and most of the students just walked by not very interested. The only way to get students to talk to us was by luring them in with pixie stix. Although this tactic was not extremely successful, some key phrases did come about. Some of these phrases include: I pegged you as a pixie stick kind of girl, candy from strangers all you have to do is bend over and pick it up (pointing to the candy on the ground). So Rhett's job was to talk to the students, my job was to set the mood so I just kind of sat there. A couple walked by and the girl saw who we were and told the boy she was with that she went to NLR for 3 years as a kid, he responded with "No s***? " I went to Kanakuk! Being at OSU allowed me to see some good friends including the one and only Katie Berry. Guys I like Katie a lot, so much I even went to a Biology class with her. After the first 3 minutes I got up and left but it was the thought that counts anyway. So we are wrapping up the the final day at OSU and myself Rhett, Geoff Maples, and Conner are tossing a disc when I see a student checking out what was behind our display. Geoff notices too and approaches the young man and asks if he needs help with anything. He replies no that he just took a piece of candy. So Geoff walks away and the students walks away as well. I decided to follow the student just in case. I was a good 30 yards behind him when he starts walking faster. I begin to run after him and he sees me and takes off. He runs into a building and is nowhere to be found. I reconnect with Geoff who came in the back way. All of the sudden homeboy walks out wearing different clothes holding Geoff's new Droid in his hand along with Conner's Ipod. Geoff looks at homeboy and asks for his phone back and homeboy just gives it to him. Homeboy you are really dumb, for realz.

OBU-After spending a few days there I decided a few things. One, I will never home school my kids, ever. If you think about it kids getting bullied isn't always a bad thing. If a kid is acting weird the bully will let him know and the kid will stop doing it, therefore will stop acting socially awkward and will begin to function better in the world. Yes it hurts at the time but I'm so thankful for all the times my older brother beat me up for listening to the Spice Girls. Two, there were way more interesting people at OBU than OSU. This Asian student stopped by and asked us what we were. We explain we were a summer camp and she laughed at us and informed us that it is winter...


SBU- Luke Stehr likes camp, a lot.

Missouri S & T- This school is kind of labeled for being a nerdy school. The reason it has this reputation is largely due to the fact that it is. But I always look for the silver lining and here it is. I was washing my hands in the bathroom and this girl (who was without a doubt home schooled for most of her life) walks in. She looks at me with the absolute meanest look I have ever seen. The kind of look that says, "You freak why are you in the woman's bathroom?!?" I just smile and continue to wash my hands. She looks at me then turns her head at looks at the urinals. Looks back at me then back at the urinals, then back at me and turns around walks away while saying, "Well that worked out great for me." She just so happened to be in the church service I was at and would not make eye contact with me, and I tried so so hard for that to happen.

On our way back to Oklahoma Rhett and myself stop at the Wal-Mart in Missouri. The bathroom was being cleaned so I just waited outside the door. While I'm waiting these two girls come out with a kid in each arm. They looked to be about my age but it was hard to tell. Thing 1 says to her child 'I'm going to put you in the cart now." She then looks right at me and says, "Can I put you in the cart?" Myself being the clever, witty person I am said, "No." She then says "It's alright I'm preggo anyway." Classy

I have some really strange friends. J Ho just isn't normal, AC pretends to hate me every time I hang out with her so maybe she really does... Yeah those are pretty much my only friends who visit me.

Jesus' first miracle, turning the water into wine. The Baptist's first miracle, turning the wine into grape juice.

Later, JG

X

"Don't be stupid, that's what we have politicians for." "If 10% was good enough for Jesus it should be good enough for the government?" These were just a few of the bumper stickers on this awesome black PT Cruiser I was behind on my way to the Verizon store. I mean after I read those I instantly changed my political views and felt the need to get some for my own non-existent vehicle. I mean honestly if you are going to try to look like an intelligent person with any kind of political wisdom, at least take off the 6 (yes that's right 6) nascar stickers off your Cruiser as well as the Palin '12 sticker. Oh and maybe change the Texas license plate as well.

Last week was my mom's birthday so it thought about all the advice she has shared with me over the years and here are a few that helped me the most. "Don't worry about your grades, just be the best athlete and get everyone to like you. Fine get a tattoo, ruin your body I don't care." There was this one time in 10th grade when I got suspended from school for cheating, which was stupid because I wasn't cheating for myself but I stupid friend who couldn't pass a science quiz, and they called my mom to come pick me up in the principal's office. Apparently they never told her why I was there so when she got there and found out why, it was actually a relief for her to know I was in trouble and not the hospital again for doing something awesome. So thanks mom for all the advice and remember that time you told me I could do whatever I wanted to once I was out of the house? Well I'm JG so obviously I have been doing what I want for awhile now, and I'm going to see Jackass 3 this weekend! Get the jello and chocolate pudding ready, and the ice every half hour. Good times.

Every Tuesday I mentor a 4th grader for 2 hours and it has been the most effective form of birth control ever created. This kid has so much energy its ridiculous. I mean he is an awesome guy, but when the first thing he says to me is "Hey Mr. John, I didn't take my medicine today" makes me wonder if I ever want kids, seriously.

Before I finished I just wanted everyone to know just how awesome Annie Paige is. Get to know her she is really cool. Once you talk to her you will soon realize that her ability to kick herself in the head is the least interesting thing about her, honestly she is great. Oh and Katie Berry is really funny, for a girl.

Girls at christian colleges are like parking spots, the good ones are taken and the rest are handicapped.

Later JG

Purple Fuzzies,

So this past weekend I had time off so I decided to drop in on my friends up at the U of A. It was a big weekend because Arkansas was playing the number one seen Alabama that Saturday. I arrived Friday night and people were outside the stadium and had been there camping out since Monday. I figured I'm pretty well known so the best way to find people is to start walking down the street where there are already thousands of people. Oh fun fact I actually know the girl who was in the very first tent, just throwing that out there. I barely start walking and I hear someone yell my name. As luck would have it it just so happened to be David Cox. Boys and girls let me tell you, David Cox is a much different person outside of camp. He was actually hilarious, for the first time in my life I enjoyed being around him.

I later met up with my other friends JHo and Anna Clark, and we went to Taco Bell and Wal Mart (you know the places that we didn't go to at all all summer). So the next day was the football game and I still didn't have a ticket. Not gonna lie I almost felt uncomfortable walking around the busy streets with one finger up indicating I needed one ticket. It was funny because many people felt the need to put another finger up at me even though they already had tickets... Stay classy Arkansas. I'm walking down the street and some one else yells at me and she is in a car and it was one of those I know who you are but can't remember at the moment so it was real awkward because I didn't know what to say, sorry Allie. I finally find this nice african american male and he offers to sell me his ticket. At first he asks for $300 but because I grew up on the streets I knew what to do. I laugh and walk off knowing he will hollar back. Well he wasn't no hollar back guy so I ended up walking back. I told him I was from NC and that I drove all through the night to get here but left my ticket on the table. ( yes I am from NC true, yes I did drive all through the night to get here true, did I leave my ticket on the table, not so true) So I show him my NC drivers license, tell him the seats are awful, the game will be a blowout, and no one is looking for a single ticket. Yup I definitely walked away with a $300 ticket for $60. The seats were awful so I just walked past the security and sat in the student section. I'm telling you if you walk anywhere acting like you own the place you will be surprised with how little people will try to stop you.

I drove back that night because Arkansas lost so everyone went home or started studying for Monday. I however had a rondevu that night so it ended up working out. I like to think I'm pretty good at coming up with a plan B on the spur of the moment situations. So whenever my phone died on the way back I had to come up with something. I could have either went home and called my friend the let my friend know I couldn't make it because my phone died, but that would have been pretty lame and lets face it JG does not stoop to the lame level. So I stop at the hotel to use their computer. The clerk tells me the computer has been down all day and won't be fixed until the next day. I asked to see it anyway and I'm no computer geek by any means but I totes def figured out the modem was plugged into the wrong part of the computer and I fixed it within like 3 mins, just sayin. So I get on facebook find my friend's number call my friend to make sure we were still on for our rondevu find out where we are meeting and all that jazz while using the hotel's phone.

I keep having this reoccurring dream that my high school diploma isn't real and I have to do my senior year all over again. So I guess it's more of a nightmare. So I go to some random school in oklahoma and end up playing football as a 20 year old senior. That's about as far as I get before I wake up but last night for some reason the Duggars were at my game. I guess because I was at their house Sunday night they were still fresh on my mind.

"JG put me in your blog"-Everyone

Later, JG

Get your friends to follow me! I'm conceded but I don't care.

I'm a pretty big fan of people watching to say the least. Some call it an invasion of privacy, but I just think of it as a hobby. So last night I was at this real janky outdoor skate park in downtown Siloam Springs and it may be my go to spot for the year. Last year was easy because I could just leave my room and people watch anywhere. Yeah everyone at Liberty was either home schooled or just lacked social skills. It was awesome! So last night I was just skating around (shirtless) looking real white trash thugg. I was doing my thing and this mexican playa walks up trying to start sumthan. I was actually wrong he just wanted a lighter. We had a good talk, his name was michael and just moved here from California. He wants to go back but is on parole here for underaged drinking hahah stay classy Siloam.

My phone is awful and my one year insurance is up next week so I made a visit to my local verizone dealer. If you want a new phone its pretty easy. If you tell them that your phone is messed up physically than they will blame it on you and make you pay for it. Here is what I did. I told them something random like my speaker phone keeps turning on, which it did twice today, and they are going to give me a new phone for free. Which is awesome because it is falling apart.

The phone incident reminded me of some other things that happened whenever I was younger. In early high school, when I was still listening to awful music, Underaoth came into town. Since I was poor I didn't have money for a ticket I decided to show up anyway and see what I could do, I mean after all I'm John Grant. So I show up and go directly to the lady taking tickets and tell her my name is on the VIP list and my ticket is waiting for me. Of course my name was not on the list but if you act upset enough things happen. I just so happened to have Aaron Gillespie's phone number, the drummer/vocals for Underoath, in my phone. I got the number from a friend from school who tried to open for them, but got denied. The lady wasn't buying my story at all that me and Aaron are good family friends and how pissed he will be if she didn't let me in. I end up calling him and it goes straight to voicemail, which is good because he would have had no idea who I am if he had answered. So she finally lets me and my friend in. It was the best/worse free concert I have ever attended.

So tonight I have 103. To those of you who aren't down with the NLR lingo that means I have the phone the people here call if there is an emergency. So i'm sitting here at my office listening to some pandora and checking up on my fantasy team when the phone goes off. I wasn't paying attention to what I was listening to on pandora and apparently if you plug in Nirvana you will eventually get Eminem so I can't just answer with all the naughty words going off in the background. I can't find the volume so i have to just shut my laptop, which didn't stop it at all, so I had to leave the room. The voice on the other end tells me to call an ambulance because a kid had broken his leg. I freak out a bit because I didn't know what to do. I soon get another call saying a cabin is missing a camper. I get another call telling me to cancel the ambulance and the kid was faking. It was crazy but everything turned out alright!

Where's Parker? He's on that skypy-skype thing...-Garret Blythe

Later, JG

Luke Stehr

I miss college. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love what I'm doing right now, but I also miss always having something going on and staying up late. So most nights I have off you will find me hitting up JBU or the U of A just so I can be around people my own age and maturity. If anyone is ever at Arkansas and has nothing to do call J Ho, she is always up to something and never needs to be told in advance you are coming. Just call her and tell her you're on your way to her dorm she loves it when you do that.

Tonight I was driving back from my first high school football game in seven years and I stopped at the Siloam Taco bell. I was about to go in and I saw like 7 bigger guys with cut off sleeves in line about to order. Usually I would fit in perfectly but on this night I was wearing my new jacket and was feeling like a nancy boy. So I just ended up going through the drive thru. Don't worry I regained my manliness. When the waitress took my order and asked what sauce I wanted I told her to give me the hottest they had. Oh yeah she could tell how much of a man I was after that. Even though I just threw the sauce away after I got it, I still felt better.

This week I have been leading roughly 600 6th graders from Jenks in different activities. I know I taught them all so many life skills but I also learned something important as well. That's right I have decided to not have kids, ever. They all behaved but today I had to help a kid who was crossing the creek and started getting carried away. This kid had Down Syndrome and was an awesome kid, I would have jumped in for any kid but I felt like I really needed for this situation. Even though I got soaked by freezing cold water the kid was fine, Sarah Palin would be proud...too far?

Not being in school so far has really given me some serious time to evaluate what I want to do in life. So here is my new life plan. Go to the duggars house, because I am on the approved list of visitors, and pick out a girl around my age to date. Date her until they start filming a new season and do something questionable to get media attention. Break up with her once I find out all their family secrets and go straight to hollywood. Be a special guest on the Soup and that will launch my career. I mean this is a foolproof plan, but just in case it doesn't I'm also really tempted to go work on a cruise ship next year.

Every week for two hours I mentor this awesome 4th grader. If someone told me a few years ago I would be where I am now and doing the things I do I would not have believed them. Funny how things work out.

"Do you know my mom's best friend's middle name?" "No" Yeah I didn't think so...-Some Jenks girl.

Later, JG

Reminiscing

Article taken out of the Greensboro paper during my Jr year of high school.

Tyler Biggs, Nick Taylor, Brad Horton, Tyler Haley, Brandon Marchisotto, Mitchell Matthews, Ryan White, John Grant, Caleb Shelton, Steven Conger. All of these kids play good, solid, sound fundamental baseball and they used those skills to defeat Gospel Light Christian 13-1 yesterday at Ernie Shore Field in Winston-Salem.

The ten kids I mentioned at the top of the article play for the Vandalia Christian Vikings and they were in top form on Tuesday. I was especially impressed with Tyler Biggs at shortstop, the VCS second baseman, and John Grant who made two outstanding catches in the bottom of the fifth inning to make sure that VCS closed out the game with the ten-run rule in effect after five innings.

Biggs made some solid plays at SS and the second baseman knocked down a hard hit ball in the infield to rob Gospel Light of a key base hit and John Grant for VCS made those plays and one of those was with his back up against the left field wall in a professional baseball stadium. That’s getting pretty deep brother.

Aaron Jones didn’t have his best stuff for Gospel Light but he did strike out eight Vandalia batters, but he also issued five walks. Defensively, Jones didn’t have a lot of help backing him up but let’s give credit to the Luke Oates-coached Vandalia team, this was their time to shine on a very cold and windy day at Ernie Shore Field in Winston-Salem.

The top of the Vandalia order was hitting the ball all over the place. John Grant got the win on the mound for Vandalia.

Grant W (7-0)

Don't watch Repo Men, it was awful.

So the other night I was driving home and I noticed the person in the next lane over was driving a moped. The stoplight was quickly approaching and I really wanted to talk to this person but I didn't want to sound lame so as soon as we both stopped I rolled down my window and asked him where the nearest Redbox was. It was awesome because I soon noticed that he was probably around 15 or 16 and was feeling really uncomfortable giving me directions. I couldn't understand why he was being so shy so I kept following him and asking him for a quicker route than the one he had just previously given. The last stoplight was coming up (my timing was perfect because we got stopped by the 4 stoplights on that road) and I asked him if he had seen any good movies lately and what would he recommend seeing. He finally just ignored me and the light turned green and we went our separate ways. I remember thinking to myself only dorks drive mopeds, as I drove away with my gauges (I did myself) my cut off sleeves, in my mom's minivan...

Last Wednesday was my final day in N.C for a pretty long time. As I was going through security at the airport they had to scan my bag 3 different times because apparently 2 tubs of creatine and whey protein and a N64 looks suspicious in the Xray machine. Like people know how to make bombs with powder and wires, get a life TSA. I flew into Dallas where I had a 2 hour layover with my fabulous friend Lauren. While we were waiting for our flights, mine to Oklahoma hers to Italy, we were talking about current events going on in America. As we were talking this man leans over and corrects a statement I made. I won't go into details because I don't want to offend the 2 of you that read this because I'm sure my views may be different than yours. It was just funny because myself and Lauren just had to walk away. Gotta love Texans!

Thursday morning I wake up bright and early for the 12 hour drive to Colorado. We, meaning myself and the other people doing the LEAD program, stay at a state park the first night and continue to the Rockies the next day.

Friday- We reach the trailhead around 6 P.M. and begin our 4 mile hike for the day. Having never experienced altitude sickness or being strapped to a 45lbs plus backpack, backpacking in Colorado was a pretty big stretch. The further and higher we hiked, the more and more my body was hating me. We finally made it up the 11,400ft climb to the site for the first night. When I say site I mean a small patch of grass under some trees in the middle of nowhere. If you wanted a shower you had to jump in the freezing cold lake, if you had to go to the bathroom you had to find a tree dig a little hole and yeah... It was not what I was expecting at all. We had a fire going I was almost asleep when Luke told us it was time to make a bear bag. Apparently when one is backpacking through the Rockies one is suppose to take all the food/trash/toothpaste/deodorant put it all in a bag, take the bag at least 200ft downwind from camp, tie it high in a tree so bears won't eat your food or you. This was a first for me. We finally got it up, and went to bed.

Saturday- We wake up and begin our next hike for the day which is only a 7 miles. It takes us all day through the grassy/hilly/rocky/elk poop infested trail until we finally see Trout lake at the bottom of the mountain. We see this around 6:46 P.M. and assume we will be there shortly. We decide to leave the trail and go down a different route which looks easiest. We soon find ourselves in a swampy marsh type land and all of our socks and shoes and completely wet which makes hiking that much more fun. We finally make it all the way down and by the time we found a good enough place to stay its 8:45. We eat our astronaut food purify our water, make another bear bag and go to bed.

Sunday- This day was dedicated to rest and that I did. I spent most of the entire day in my hammock which was pretty incredible considering all I could see was mountains everywhere. That night as we are getting ready to end the night it starts raining, a lot. In case you didn't know that nights in the Rocky mountains are already freezing cold but rain just makes that worse. We leave our dry nice shelter area put up that bear bag again, in the rain, and run back to our tent. I didn't sleep much that night either from all the sleep I had that day, or the fact that I was cold and wet and was using my also wet hoodie as a pillow.

Monday- This was probably the best day we had all week. We started our 7 mile hike back through the mountains. We decide to get off the trail and use a map and compass to find our way back. During this time its starts to rain, no big deal we have rain gear and will be fine. Then it starts raining harder and harder and lightening all around us. Its a pretty cool feeling when your leader tells you to spread out in case one of us gets struck by lightening, that's when adrenaline hit. The sky soon clears up and we make it to our next site for the day. That night as we were placing the bear bag in the tree I was hoping that a bear would at least try to get our food and as soon as I thought that I see something out of the conner of my eye move. I couldn't believe what I saw. I shine my light into the eyes of a huge, brown, furry, monstrous, snarling you guessed it deer! Yeah it was pretty crazy, the look in mother deer's eyes was insane and you could tell she was out of blood. We barely escaped and made it back to camp.

Tuesday- We finally make it back to the van drive to the nearest food establishment and I eat probably one of the best burgers I have ever had the pleasure of eating. We make our drive down through New Mexico and camp in oklahoma for the night.

Now that I'm home safely sitting in my apartment thinking back on the trip I realize just how awesome of a trip it really was. To be so far from civilization and other people that whenever a plane flew over those passengers were the closest humans was a incredible thought. I'm really looking forward to these next 9 months.

Fine Annie Paige I will put you in my blog.

Later, JG

Ok maybe David Cox isn't that bad.

Well these last two days have been pretty interesting. I left Tulsa yesterday and flew straight to Memphis and during my layover I soon found out that my flight home was canceled. So I ended up staying in this pretty gross hotel, that the airline paid for, and a pretty gross dinner, which the airline paid for, and slept in a pretty gross bed. As perturbed as I was the night was completely worth it because of what happened next. As I was walking to my room I noticed a sign pointing to a workout room. Since I had nowhere to go and nothing to do I decided to work off some frustration. It's a pretty great feeling walking into a gym and being the strongest person in the room immediately. I mean that's not saying much considering it was a Tuesday night and my competition was a portly adolescent who clearly must have been home schooled at some point of his life, a woman, and a Elvis impersonator. Naturally when Elvis walked in I took a few creeper pics on my phone because I was so confused as to why he was even in there. The pics were not enough I had to talk to him, so I inched my way over and respectfully asked why he was in Memphis. I now understand how stupid of a question that was because everyone knows its Elvis week at Graceland in Memphis. I soon found out he was from LA and we talked sports, talked sports meaning I talked intelligent sports he just cussed a lot, and I asked him why he was working out since he was an Elvis impersonator. I mean didn't Elvis die on the toilet from obesity?

The next day I wake up at 4:15 to catch my next flight. I arrive in Atlanta and realize there is a flight leaving for Greensboro an hour earlier than the flight I'm scheduled to take. I talked to the nice Delta lady and she told me there was a hefty charge to change the flight. I explained they canceled my flight and that I needed to get home and explained that I'm John DeChamp Grant so needless to say she changed my flight for free. Yeah that really did happen. I go to my gate and soon realize that the flight I had just switched to was now delayed an hour and my original flight was leaving ten minutes later. The flight was now full and they were asking if anyone would be able to give up there seat. Me being the sweet kind hearted young man that I am offered my seat, and they may or may not have offered me a $200 flight card for taking a later flight (1o minutes later). This was awesome because I will be flying back to Oklahoma next week. Well my flight gets even more delayed because there is a dent in the side of it but not to worry because they will have it ready for flight in 30 minutes. So my flight ended up not being full, they took my card away and put me on the dangerous plane. I finally made it home and after much napping, eating, and lots of sports center I think I may pull through.

Oh yeah my summer was great and I have big plans for this year, but that's for a later time.

"Well, the good thing is even though I'm one of the worst players on the planet, I might be able to beat you. So I do feel good about that. Yes. Definitely"- Tiger Woods

Later, JG

It's 2am and I didn't proof read this, enjoy!

It has been entirely too long since I have last posted, but I have kind of been busy teaching kids about Jesus. I know that isn't a good reason but its the best I can think of. Honestly this summer has been great. The people here are some of the greatest people I have ever met. When I say some I really do mean some. Probably one of my least favorite people I have met, in my entire life not just at the ranch, is David Cox.

If you don't know who David is think of a almost as attractive Owen Wilson before he broke his nose 3 times and than subtract about 60lbs and take away the hair.That's what he looks like. I think I would rather be co counselors with Helen Keller than David. Although there wouldn't be much of a difference. It's so funny though how he tries to be best friends with me. He is always telling me how good looking and strong I am, it's almost pathetic sometimes. He even told all his friends on Facebook about my blog trying to spark some kind of friendship between us. David Cox I have one question for you, Wwhhere do you get off?

Being at camp all summer naturally makes one want to watch the 1994 comedy Heavy Weights. So tonight I did just that. After watching all those chubby kids jiggle across the screen it made me think about the auditions that went down to be in that movie. I mean what did the ad sound like? We are looking for overweight children, preferably obese and ones that have diabetes, to be in a movie mocking fat kids. Yeah if I had a fat kid, or a ginger, I would probably make them try out for a part and than spend there money but tell them its in a college fund. I can't wait until I'm a parent.

One of my favorite things about being a counselor is just being sarcastic with campers. It's so funny whenever they catch on, but even more funny when they have no idea and think I'm really that mean. Another favorite thing is the questions they ask me. The following is a list of questions asked by 3rd graders week one:

I asked my cabin who had sinned and my camper replied, "I have, I say the "F" word like 50 times a day."

While swimming, "Is your tattoo spanish or something?"

"I want to be you Mr. John, you get to yell at kids and tell them to go to bed."

Two boys talking, "You slept naked? Yeah not even socks!"

What's an orgy? (thanks to a verse read in chapel)

"The blob sounds like boob, Why do girls have boobs? Thats just wrong."

"I can't be a missionary in Africa, I'm allergic to lots of African things."

"Can Mexicans got to Heaven?"

Chubby camper 1, "I'm on a diet." 2nd camper "You ate 6 Reece's pieces today." Chubby, "Yeah I normally eat 6."

Oh the joys of campers!

"Destiny knows where you live, will you be home when it comes over to see if you can play?"- Pete and Pete.

Later, JG

That's Right, I Blogged About It.

It has been about 2 weeks since my last blog and I really don't feel as if I need to often since the 2.5 people who read this are constantly with me this summer anyways. Tomorrow is going to be a big day for me, it will be the first time I have taken a shower, with soap, since May 11th. I really don't want to because I'm curious to see how long I can go, but the time has finally come. I don't really have a good reason for not showering, but I usually never have a good reason for anything that I do.

Speaking of not having a good reason to do something, tonight was the talent show thing at NLR. Me and my small group decided to do this parody of "Like a Boss" by Andy Samberg. Lets just say it was the end of my short rapping career. I may pursue that dream later but for now I will stick to the white person that I am.

I have been looking forward to camp for so long its weird finally being here. The only thing I wasn't expecting was how much I would be made fun of. I feel as if I am the only guy who can't go sleeveless, talk to a girl, or blog without everyone making me feel like a terrible person. Oh well at least no one can see me cry myself to sleep at night.

"You're a mountain that I would like to climb, not to conquer but to share in the view. You're a bondfire I will gather around you"- Incubus

Later, JG

Do you want to have a summer party in my basement?

Well I'm finally in Oklahoma, and as it does each time I arrive I feel as if I had never left. Myself along with my little sister Kaitlin and bestie Lindsey left North Carolina around 8 pm on Thursday night. It wasn't a bad drive at all it actually went by a lot faster than I was expecting. I ended up driving all through the night and until about 11 am my body time and I think I only fell asleep a few times. Whoever created those rumble strips along the highway is a genius. I'm just messin... kind of.

I decided the make the trip without any caffeine at all to avoid a crash later, figuratively and literally. So I made the 16 hour drive on Gatorade, 8 burgers from Wendy's, and all the Casha anyone could ever dream about. It's funny how one's mind begins to play tricks while driving at 4 am. I kept imagining I was on some weird secret mission, but I can't remember where I was going. I just couldn't raise any suspicion because that would mean getting pulled over by the cops and they wanted to get information out of me. I guess that was the only way to keep myself from speeding on those long strips of Tennessee highway where no one was in sight. Didn't get pulled over so I guess I did alright.

So I was riding back from Wal-Mart yesterday and I'm getting over a pretty nasty sunburn and my chest and shoulders are peeling pretty badly. I was sitting in the passenger seat with the windows rolled down and I started scratching my shoulder without really thinking about it. Next thing I know the girl sitting behind me asked me to stop because my dead skin was landing on her. I'm pretty good at first impressions.

Right now I'm sitting in the staff lounge at NLR. It's moldy and smells terrible, the couches are wet, everything is out of place, yet there is honestly nowhere else on earth I would rather be.

"With the lights out, it's less dangerous, here we are now entertain us. I feel stupid, and contagious, here we are now entertain us"- Kurt Cobain.

Later, JG

Talked Me Into It

Ah its summertime. No more papers, finals, nasty cafeteria food, and most of all no more paleness! That's right I'm going to the beach tomorrow to get my tan/skin cancer on. The weather is actually calling for isolated thunderstorms the entire time I will be there so knowing my luck I wont get tan and I will probably get struck by lightning. I'm going with my bestie so it will be fun regardless. She and I both share in the love of creepin so I can imagine I will be getting some good stories these next few days.

I'm driving out to Oklahoma this week and I can't wait to get there but the only thing holding me back is the 16 hour drive to get out there. I try to make 16 hours not sound like a long time by breaking it down, but so far telling myself its like driving to LU 8 times in a row, or to New York City and back, or just halfway to California, isn't working out too well.

There are lots of things that people do that just don't make any sense. One of these is graduations. Think about it, lets go watch someone else's kid put on a dress and a lame hat, have someone read his or her name so he or she can walk across a stage and than sit back down, and than you give them a card with money? I mean isn't graduating high school something that even the most average teenager does? So for doing what you're suppose to do you get tons of money. Shouldn't it be the other way around? I mean they graduated they are going to make more money than those who don't graduate, lets give money to those who didn't graduate, that just makes more sense to me.

Every time I see those commercials on TV late at night where they show these pretty good looking girls advertising phone dating. I mean that's a great way to meet a creeper, but call me old fashioned but usually people just leave their couches to meet "local hot singles." What do I know I'm sure their are plenty of classy people out there phone dating.

"We don't need your hypocrisy, execute real democracy, post-industrial society, the unthinking majority"-Serj Tankian.

Later, JG

Kaitlin's Bday post

Oh man six more days and I'm out of here. This year has gone by pretty fast but I know this next week won't be over fast enough. Today was good though all classes where canceled for a "Reading day". It's kind of a ridiculous thing but whatever I got to go bridge jumping today and that was sick as always.

The bridge we jump off of is close to a pretty big camping/trail place so its a public bridge but apparently jumping off is not allowed. So when I got there with my group there was a cop there and told us we weren't allowed to jump of the bridge. He left and about two minutes after he was gone people were jumping off again. Its about a 40ft jump so its good for adrenaline. The entire time I was thinking about what my mom always said "If your friend jumped off a bridge would you do the same thing?" Unfortunately, I was always the friend who was jumping off trying to get everyone else to follow me. In the end no one got too hurt and the fuzz didn't come back.

While we were all jumping a group of people who were hiking stoped to watch. I talked to a few of them and found out that they all have been hiking for two months now and started in Georgia and where headed to Maine following the Appellation Mountains. It was so cool and they all told me I should seriously do it, and now I seriously want to. (anyone who wants to let me know because I'm down like a frown) We talked for about 5 mins or so and found out they all started their hike alone and met each other and have been friends since. As I was about to leave one of them asked me if I knew where he could buy some "herb" that was pretty funny.

Typical black people, whoever yells the loudest and gets the angriest gets the ball back.-Random black guy at the bball courts.

Later, JG

Everybody Wants to be a Backstreet Boy.

I just took a lot of Nyquil before I started this post, just to let you know. Looking back on some of my post(not that I have very many to choose from) I have noticed some misspelled words and a few grammar mistakes. I'm not apologizing by any mean it's my blog I will write whatever I want, but I just wanted everyone who read this, yes all 4 of you, that I am aware of my mistakes.

One of the things that has brought joy into my life, surprisingly, is whenever someone who I know very well or not well at all tells me they read my blog. I feel honored that someone would seriously take the time to read about the things that happen in my day or what I'm thinking. The reason this makes me so happy is because it assures me that people waste their time on stupid things which justifies the stupid things I read or watch. Sometimes I wish I had a life but than I wouldn't be able to sleep all day.

Sleep is honestly one of my favorite things of all time. Whenever I'm not in class, eating, or playing N64 in my room, you will find me in bed. It has gotten to the point where I try to talk myself out of things to do just so I can sleep. Example I really needed a shower the other night and I was standing in my room trying to decide what to do. I could either take a ten minute shower and than sleep and feel nice and clean, or just get in bed fall asleep and forget how badly I smelt. I went with plan B and just told myself it was preparation for camp. This weekend was pretty grand as far as sleep goes. On Saturday I got up at 10am to go hiking, got back at 1pm and slept until 7 pm. Sunday woke up at 2 pm to go bridge jumping with my bestie Lindsey Kirkland got back at 5 pm and slept until 10:30 pm. It really was one of the best weekends I have had in awhile.

The fact that its May and camp is almost here is crazy. I can't wait to be with some of my favorite people in the world and hopefully be bringing one of my best friends with me this year, but we'll see. This will be a big year for myself and I'm looking forward to see what all will be in store.

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." -Mahatma Gandhi

Later- JG

Would you like to go to the pants party?

Today was a pretty good day. Finished a project on time and went to a math study group. So after the study group I went to the rot alone because all my friends had already eaten. I get there and the place is filled with Asians. The Asians at Liberty are some of the nicest people I have ever met and seeing them there reminded me that one of my goals this year was to become friends with one of them. I figured I could help them with their English and they could help me in math. That sounds like a pretty fair trade to me.

A few days ago I lost my key to my room and I have still yet to find it. The only problem with this is I can't get into my dorm. Once inside my dorm I can get inside my room by using a credit card (It's pretty sweet actually I feel one of the Spy Kids). So today I was locked outside my dorm and I'm pretty lazy so I didn't feel like texting someone to let me in. So I'm standing there weighing my options when I notice my window is open and I have a ice cream cone in my hand. So I had to get Ryan's attention so I through the ice cream into my room hoping someone would notice. Luckily I have amazing aim and managed to not get any ice cream on any of my stuff.

One of my favorite shows of all time is Nitro Circus. If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it. This show always inspires me which is not necessarily a good thing if you are aware of my past injuries. But nonetheless I watch it as often as I can. Today I was thinking that I would really enjoy moving out to California and becoming a stuntman. The money is good and I could be in movies but no one would no who I am; therefore no paparazzi. I would make a good stuntman for Will Ferrel because we have similar features. I would work along side Will and we would share a laugh or two and soon become best friends. He would later introduce me to the staff of SNL and Andy Samberg and myself would do a Digital Short. What a life that would be.

I think if everyone got a tattoo the world would be a lot less judgmental.

Later, JG

Your leg is bigger than my body.

I have been pretty busy these last few days but it's the weekend now and that means some down time. Im in a small town called Belmont which is right outside of Charlotte NC. It was weird driving past my exit knowing my house was only a few miles away and not stopping. Tomorrow we are going hiking around 9:30 A.M so pretty much no sleeping in tomorrow.

So I have a geography class that meets twice a week and it is without question my favorite class of my freshman year. This is not because I love geography but because my professor is pretty freakin awesome. (oh and the fact that there are 100 students in the class and there are 10 guys including myself) So speaking of girls there is this girl who has sat two seats away from me for the entire semester but has not said one word to me. I sit directly next to her friend and we talk during class but never once did she even look at me. That is until last Thursday. As we were about to leave I got up and was like, "Hi how are you"? She responded "You're John Grant right"? I was pretty confused because we have never talked before but than she said that I was in her freshman seminar class for the first week LAST SEMESTER and was like "You're from NC right and you have a bunch of sister. (we played 2 truths and a lie that one always stumps them) I didn't even know this girls name so I asked her why she never talked to me when I sat almost right next to her and she just said I was intimidating. I was not expecting that at all maybe a you're weird or something but never a you're intimidating. Like I don't think I'm intimidating at all so that was kind of a weird experience for me.

Me and my boys try to go work out at the gym every other day but the only reason I go is so I can go swimming in the summer and not look like one of the starving kids on the 700 club who need 5 cents a day for a meal.(Oh and so Team X will win in powerball) So I'm in there feeling pretty good about myself doing my thing checking myself out in the mirror to see if anything has changed at all. So while I'm looking I see a bunch of names on the wall. As I'm reading I see it is the records for who bench pressed the most. I read the names until I got to one and realized umm yeah thats my roommate Bryant's name up there and he is only a year older than me and is benching more than twice what I was. I didn't feel like doing much after that.

"I'm so happy because today I found my friends, they're in my head."

Later, JG

The JG Rant

One of the things that really upsets me is when Christians argue about politics. I'm completely for people having different opinions than my own, but when they say things like "I wish everyone here was a republican, and I wish democrats would just get saved" just really gets me going. I mean don't judge someone because they think differently than you. I'm neither republican nor democrat. I believe that both political parties are equally corrupt and full of people who could careless for those they are representing. I would rather just not be associated with either party and just do what Jesus has called me to do.

Today I was going to the rot which is the cafeteria here at Liberty and there was some local politician standing by the doors introducing himself to the students and shaking a few hands. We get these guys all the time so it's pretty normal to see this happening. Usually I'm just hungry and could careless what he is saying so I will say something like, oh I'm Canadian I can't vote anyway or I read all about you on Google you don't have to tell me anything. But today I was feeling kind of spunky so as I got that good ole right winged handshake I looked at him and just said, "I'm a democrat." I thought that was the end of it but as I was walking away he yelled, "It's okay you're young I will be praying for you." Maybe I'm making this into a bigger deal than it was but for someone to think that because I don't belong to the political party he does that I need prayer was kind of sickening. I understand that we all need prayer equally but if I had been someone who wasn't a Christian that would have been a pretty big turnoff. I'm sure his heart was in the right place it was just his demeanor that came off as pretty self righteous. I'm also not one of those people who hate to be told what to do, I can take correction just don't tell me how to think.

I just wished we lived in a world where people genuinely loved others, forgave mistakes, and put all selfish ambition away. That would eliminate so much drama and think how much we could progress as a people with a common goal of helping others.

I will try to not write too much about serious things I want this to be fun and random, but that's what was on my mind.

I honestly think I could go the rest of my life without ever hearing the words, legit, epic, and fail. When I hear people use those I want to like give them a epic punch in the face and be like oh fail!!! That would be epic.

Later, JG

I got my sights set on you and I'm ready to aim.

Well this weekend was nothing like I planned it to be. I was expecting to not have to do anything but just sleep and watch hulu all weekend. It was 11 A.M on friday and my boy James was like, "Hey I'm driving to Maryland today to spend the weekend at Stevie Deal's (my other boy) house, you should come." So that afternoon I went on an impulsive 4 1/2 hour drive through the mountains of Virginia, through the insanely busy streets of D.C finally making it to Deal's house.

We had fun that night had some friends over and just watched movies and chillaxin all cool. Woke up at 3 the next day played some ball and had another little get together. Fell asleep around 4 woke up the next morning/afternoon at 3 (we didn't go to church because I forgot to bring my fancy clothes) and started to make our way back to LU.

Probably one of the highlights of the trip was the ride back. James and I soon found out that we both share in the fascination or obsession of Miley Cyrus when we both knew all the words to one of her songs. So naturally like most mature 19 year old men we rolled down the windows to impress the girls all around us at the stoplight. I guessed they realized James was home schooled all throughout high school because they didn't respond to the numerous "wad ups" we gave them and James being socially awkward was the most likely reason they did not give us any numbers.

This week is going to be pretty crazy, I left my phone charger back in Maryland and I never go anywhere without my phone so I'm not sure if I will be able to keep my sanity without being in constant yet shallow conversation all day which is what I'm accustomed to now.

I think queen said it best, "Nothing really matters, anyone can see that nothing really matter to me." These words will be imprinted on my mind for the next couple of weeks as my Freshman year comes to an end. Who knows maybe I will get lucky and OSU will tell me my credits are no good and I will have to repeat Freshman year. There are many positives one being I will be 21 during my Sophomore year, and two it will give me another year to try and grow facial hair.

Later, JG

Huh

So today I was in a study room with a few friends and these rooms are suppose to be sound proof but apparently they are not. As I was talking this complete stranger walks in looks at me and says, "You have an accent, where are you from?" I just said North Carolina. He goes huh and walks away.

I'm a huge fan of people watching and LU has some of the weirdest people so it all just works out.

It's almost the weekend and that's a good thing because I'm going rock climbing, hiking, getting touch ups on my tattoo, and watching as many classic nickelodeon tv shows as I possibly can(mostly Doug).

This weekend is also work weekend at NLR and I have the same song stuck in my head because it completely applies, almost. The song goes For you I'd walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more, but the problem is I'm only 996 miles away so I would have to go 2 miles in the opposite direction first. but I will be there soon enough and that place is completely worth waiting for.

Later. JG

My first time.

Currently I'm pretty disgusted with facebook and the people who take it so seriously. I could honestly careless about who becomes a fan of "summer" or "getting cute text messages when I wake up". I'm tired of the immaturity of the college students that surround me. I'm not a violent person at all but if i hear another person say, fail, epic, or legit one more time I may hit someone. Or if one more person complains about the rules, I mean come on now you're not in high school anymore please grow up. Oh and I can't stand Tim Tebow, there now I'm finished venting.

Okay now on the brighter side it's almost summer and I feel as if this summer is going to be amazing. The people in Oklahoma I will be working along side of are some of my best friends and I'm so anxious to get out there and do work son!

It is now 3:30 A.M and the only reason I am still awake is because once I fall asleep it will be a new school day and I have way too much to do so I'm doing my best to avoid the morning.

If no one reads this it's okay this is more for me anyway. In the words of 3 time male model of the year Derek Zoolander, "There has got to be more to life than being really really ridiculously good looking, and I'm going to find out what that is".

Later.