Yesterday was the beginning of what I have decided to call New Year’s Resolution Trial Week (NYRTW). NYRTW starts with Christmas and goes until January 1, and is a week where one can start on his new year’s resolutions early for a practice run. This is a good way to gauge how feasible (and worthwhile) each of your new year’s resolutions is, and it gives you the chance to get a head’s start on forming those habits that are oh-so-hard to develop.

I have my own list of things I’m going to try to do in the upcoming year, and I’ll be working hard this week to stay on track so I won’t falter so easily when it counts.

Try it. Remember, though: it doesn’t count, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work at it!

When one of my roommates received some suspicious emails about a month ago, he forwarded them to me and I decided to get to work. Here is one of the conversations.

From: James Campbell
Date: Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 3:13 AM
Subject: Re: Notification Of Inheritance
To: Justin B. Marek

From The Office Of
James Campbell Esq.
William & Associates
Phone: +44-7031842217
Email: jamesatlaw@gmail.com

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the Estate of late Luciano Pavarotti,I hereby attempt to reach you again .I wish to notify you that Late Luciano Pavarotti made you a beneficiary to His will. He left the sum of Eighteen Million five Hundred Thousand Dollars.($18,500,000.00 )to you in The codicil land last testament to his will. This may sound strange and Unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.

Luciano Pavarotti was known for his humanitarian work. He was the founder and the host of the ‘Pavarotti & Friends’ annual charity concerts and related activities in Modena , Italy . There he sang with international stars of all styles to raise funds for several worthy UN causes and charity homes.

Late Luciano Pavarotti until his death was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time, late Luciano Pavarotti died at the Age of 72 years. According to him this money is to support your activities and to help the poor and the Needy. I will like you to read more about him on this website (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0667556/bio)

Please you should fill the information below for more clarities and identification of your Information’s we have here so that will direct you on how to contact the paying bank for the release of your (money) fund.

1. Full Name
2. Country
3. Age
4. Contact address
5.Phone number(Mobile And house Phone)
6.Occupation

Note that your reply should come to my private mail box which is Email:jamesatlaw@gmail.com

Yours in Service,
James Campbell Esq.

From: Justin B. Marek
Date: Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Subject: Re: Notification Of Inheritance
To: jamesatlaw@gmail.com

Hello, James:

I’m sorry for the late reply. Somehow this email got lost in my spam folder and I did not read it until today. I hope that it is not too late to receive my inheritance. I do not know how Luciano Pavarotti knew that I am indeed poor and needy but I am very thankful that he decided to give the money to me. I wish it was more because I am in a lot of debt, but $18,500,000 is still a lot to be thankful for.

You are right. It does sound unbelievable, and I would like to believe it is true, but I do not know if you are a trustworthy man. I was excited when I read this, but everyone is telling me that it might be a scam from Nigeria. I don’t want to believe them, but I am a smart man and need to make sure. Please tell me if you are lying to me. I need to know if you are trustworthy so if I could have a handwritten signature proving that you are who you say you are, I would very much appreciate it.

In the meantime I am going to read up on Mr. Pavarotti. Since he has been so gracious to me, I think the least I  could do would be to find out who he actually was and what he did. Perhaps I will even listen to his music. Thank you for including a link to his IMDB page.

Anyway, thank you for contacting me and letting me know, and I eagerly await your response. Again, I am sorry for the delay and hope that it does not cause too much inconvenience.

Justin B. Marek

From: James Campbell
Date: Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 3:09 AM
Subject: Re: Notification Of Inheritance
To: Justin B. Marek

Dear Justin B. Marek,
I am in receipt of your mail, I will appreciate if you send me your phone number for me to call you and brief you properly on this.

Regards,
James Campbell Esq.
Tel: +447024052556

From: Justin B. Marek
Date: Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 1:43
Subject: Re: Notification Of Inheritance
To: jamesatlaw@gmail.com

Because of some problems paying bills (remember I am very much in debt), I cannot accept phone calls until sometime next week. Next week I will go to my neighbor’s house and use his phone since he will be away on Christmas vacation. I know where he keeps his spare key. Then I will give you that number so you can call me.

Is there any way we can talk until my neighbor leaves?

By the way, I still don’t know if you’re a trustworthy person. I would still like you to send me a copy of your signature to prove that you are really James Campbell.

Write back soon,
Justin B. Marek

From: James Campbell
Date: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 4:13 AM
Subject: Re: Notification Of Inheritance
To: Justin B. Marek

Dear Justin B. Marek,
I am in receipt of your mail; you will find below my contact phone number you give me a call with that. So I urge you to go ahead and send me your information as listed below:

1. Full names:
2. Age:
3. Sex:
4. Current Residential Address:
5. Telephone:
6. Occupation:

So, kindly send the details and I insist you send your contact phone number because I will like to call and hear your voice, but will not discuss about the funds. I will direct you to the bank as soon as I have the information
Thanks for your understanding.

Regards,
James Campbell Esq.
Tel: +447024052556

From: Justin B. Marek
Date: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Subject: Re: Notification Of Inheritance
To: jamesatlaw@gmail.com

James Campbell,
I’m glad you received my email. Even though we’ve only emailed each other a few times, I feel as if we are going to be great friends. You are a great lawyer and a great emailer. I’m glad Luciano Pavarotti put his trust in you.

Again, I cannot send you my contact number yet because my neighbor is still at home. However, I may be able to break into his house earlier than next week. He often goes out and gets drunk, especially on Friday nights. He recently found out that his wife was cheating on him with the pest control man and is trying to forget his pain. If he goes out tonight or tomorrow night I will try to sneak inside and get his phone number so we can talk. I will let you know if I succeed.

I still insist that you send me your handwritten signature to prove that you are James Campbell. Please believe me when I say I’m only doing this because my friends do not believe you; I myself trust that you are who you say you are. When you send me your signature, I will send you my information as listed in your previous email.

Thank you for your cooperation, my friend.
Justin B. Marek

P.S.
I have taken the time to read up on Luciano Pavarotti and I find him quite interesting. I didn’t know that he died from pancreatic cancer. Such a shame. Did you know he was the first opera tenor to hit all nine high C’s with his full voice? That’s why he’s called “King of the High C’s.” He was also a close friend of Princess Diana!

I don’t know if you’ve heard him sing, but his voice is so beautiful. I suggest that you listen to this song that I found on Wikipedia:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/af/Donizetti_Ah%21_mes_amis%2C_quel_jour_de_f%C3%AAte%21.ogg

From: James Campbell
Date: Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 4:21 AM
Subject: My Passport
To: Justin B. Marek

Dear Justin B. Marek,
See Attachment.

From: Justin B. Marek
Date: Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Subject: Re: My Passport.
To: jamesatlaw@gmail.com

Dear James Campbell,

Hey, I’m sorry about taking so long. I had to spend a week in jail for breaking and entering. It turns out that my neighbor changed where he hid his spare key so I had to break a window to get in. I didn’t know that he installed a burglar alarm system. Anyway, I’m out of jail (but now I’m in more debt because of bail), and am ready to receive my money!

Oh, and thank you for your sending me your proof! I knew I could trust you! You have a very professional-looking face. I’m sure you get a lot of stares from classy businesswomen. Did you know that I am actually two years older than you are? Imagine that! I’m getting so old!

I also wanted to let you know that your passport has expired. You should probably renew it soon if you’re going to be leaving the country. I don’t know if you travel a lot, so maybe this isn’t an issue.

Anyway, now that I trust, you I can give you the information that you requested:

1. Full names: Justin B. Marek
2. Age: August 5, 1953
3. Sex: N
4. Current Residential Address: 1782 Everette Alley, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33311
5. Telephone: 206-309-0863 (this is only a temporary go-phone)
6. Occupation: nephrology nurse

Look forward to hearing from you soon!
Justin Marek

From: James Campbell
Date: Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 3:27 AM
Subject: Contact The Bank.
To: Justin B. Marek

Dear Justin B. Marek,
I have got your information and your Inheritance file opened with all reference copied to the paying bank. You should contact the paying bank immediately for further assistance in releasing the fund to you. I have equally proceeded to the Court and prepared the Letter of Administration that you will need while contacting the Bank where the Funds which has been Willed to you by Late Luciano Pavarotti is deposited.

Send Them
(1) A Copy Your Photo Identity (International Passport, driver license or valid identity card)

You will find attached with this mail the Letter of Administration. You are hereby advised to contact the bank with the Letter of Administration for the release of these funds to you with their contact information below;

United Trust Bank London
Email: utb@unitedtrust-uk.com
Phone: +44-704-570-6470
Fax: +44-870-913-4096
CONTACT PERSON: Mr. Basil John

Let me know as soon as you have contacted them, I am waiting for your response
Thanks.

Yours truly,
James Campbell.
Phone: +44-7024052556

From: Justin B. Marek
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 2:35 AM
Subject: Transfer of funds
To: utb@unitedtrust-uk.com

Mr. Basil John,

Hi, my name is Justin Marek and I was told to contact you. I don’t know if you are aware of this, but a man by the name of Luciano Pavarotti left me a large sum of money ($18.5 million dollars) after he died. (If you do not know who Luciano Pavarotti is, don’t fret. I didn’t either until I received this news.)

James Campbell, a lawyer and dear friend of mine, advised me to contact your bank so that you could release the funds to me. He said that I should show you some identification and my Letter of Administration so that you would know that I am being truthful.

Unfortunately, I am not able to provide photo identification at the moment. I would show you my driver’s license, but it’s in my wallet. I know you will probably find this story too ridiculous to be true, but I was mugged by an elderly woman who wanted my wallet so that she could buy a Snuggie for her husband who is suffering from post-traumatic disorder. I didn’t give her the wallet out of fear, but out of sympathy for her poor husband. And I don’t have a passport. The only time I left the country was to go to Mexico and see for myself if Coke down there tasted better, but they said I could use my birth certificate instead of my passport. (For the record, I didn’t get to drink any Coke.)

I am going to try to get a valid proof of identity in the near future, but in the meantime I have attached a copy of an artist’s drawing of my face. I doubt that this will be enough proof, as the artist’s rendition of me slightly exaggerates my facial features, but it’s worth a try. If the attached drawing does not satisfy the proof of identity requirement, please email me back and let me know and I will attach a more photo-realistic picture of me as soon as I get my hands on one.

About the Letter of Administration: I promise you that the attached document is legitimate. I know that it looks like I just opened up MS Paint and drew a few rectangles, pasted a few pictures from Google Images, and added text, but this is the very document that my lawyer James Campbell sent to me. If you have any issues about the document, I suggest that you contact him. His phone number is +44-702-405-2556.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Justin B. Marek

(P.S. I love how you have two first names.)

From: Justin B. Marek
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 2:37 AM
Subject: Re: Contact The Bank.
To: jamesatlaw@gmail.com

I’ve contacted the bank. Unfortunately, I was not able to provide photo identification because I don’t have a wallet anymore (long story). I sent them a drawing of me instead. Do you think that will be enough, or should I try to get an actual photograph? I could send them my mug shot from when I was in jail, but I think that would be a little embarrassing, and I don’t know if they would want to give money to someone who they think is a criminal.

Write back soon, good friend.
Justin Marek

From: James Campbell
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 2:47 AM
Subject: Re: Contact The Bank.
To: Justin B. Marek

What sought rubbish is this do you think we are playing here? send them 1) A Copy Your Photo Identity (International Passport, driver license or valid identity card)

James Campbell

From: Justin B. Marek
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 4:03 AM
Subject: Re: Contact The Bank.
To: jamesatlaw@gmail.com

James Campbell,
I’m terribly sorry. I can tell from the tone of your email that you don’t think the drawing was a good idea. I still have not had time to get a good photo of my identity, and I still don’t have my wallet (or driver’s license). What other forms of “valid identity cards” are there?

Chat with James Campbell (December 22, 2:40 a.m.)

Justin Marek: James! It’s nice to see that you are online. Have you read my emails?
James Campbell: Hello hw are you doing?
Justin Marek: I am doing well. I had a really good day today. How was your day?
James Campbell: are u there?
Justin Marek: Yes, I am. Can you answer some questions for me?
James Campbell: ask me pls
Justin Marek: You said that I needed to have a valid form of photo identification. Remember?
James Campbell: yes
Justin Marek: Will a library card work?
James Campbell: you are supposed to have a kind of identification that has a photo of you
Justin Marek: Oh. Did the bank like my drawing? Or do I have to use something else? They have not responded back.
James Campbell: i am so sorry that i do not have time for your pranks now. pls am very busy. bye for now until you are serious
Justin Marek: I am sorry you think that it was a prank. I didn’t know that you would think it was funny. I just thought that, since I didn’t have an actually picture, and I really needed the money, maybe you would think it was okay. I am very serious. Just poor.
James Campbell: bye
Justin Marek: WAIT
Justin Marek: What about a yearbook photo? I think my mom has one of those. It’s not a cartoon.
James Campbell went offline.

Website design for my Georgia Tech account

Our computer science homework (lab) for this week is design a website using HTML and CSS. The assignment basically serves to teach people basic HTML skills. Not really such a hard task for me, but definitely a fun one. You can check it out here.

There’s one thing that irks me about the assignment: in the instructions for using SFTP, the writer(s) assume that “anyone actually using Linux full time knows this kind of stuff by default.” This is such a dangerous thing to assume. While it may be true that, in the past, full-time Linux users were geeks who knew there way around computers pretty well, Linux is no longer just an operating system for the technically inclined. With more and more average consumers buying computers with Linux preinstalled, I believe it’s time to start giving Linux users the same level of assistance as one gives the other two OSes.

But that’s just me.

Sunday, I spent my day developing a Sunday Ritual in order to help me refocus and prepare for the upcoming weeks. After a good breakfast, I went to my dorm room and spent a couple of hours planning out the next week. I figured that then was a good time to read Charles E. Hummel’s Tyranny of the Urgent, an article that a friend of mine gave me earlier that week. That’s when I realized that my plans for a Sunday Ritual, as well my plans for the week, were horribly incomplete.

One of the main questions addressed in Tyranny of the Urgent is this: “Is there really enough time to do all that God requires of you?” It takes a look at Jesus’ ministry and the fact that in John 17 Jesus was able to say, “I have finished the work You have given me to do.” Think about it: Jesus, in his short three-year ministry, was able to fully complete everything that God had given him to do. How is that possible? It’s because Jesus focused on the important things instead of the urgent things. (The story of Lazarus in John 11, when Jesus waited until Lazarus was dead, is an excellent example of this.)

I really wish I live the same way Jesus did. I often find myself doing the things that I shouldn’t be doing–not necessarily wrong things, but trivial, meaningless things–and leaving the important things undone. I’m focusing on the things that seem urgent and letting the essential tasks slip through. Not only does this leave me stressed and weary, but at the end of the day, I’m left with the feeling that I didn’t accomplish what was necessary. I don’t want to continue living like this. I too want to be able to say, at the end of my life, “God, I’ve finished the work that you have given me to do. I accomplished the important stuff.”

But how do I break free from this cycle? I always seem to focus on the urgent–those tasks that seem important at the time, the things that need to be done NOW, not later. How can I discern these things from the truly important?

Hummel points out that the key to breaking free is found in Mark 1:35: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (NIV). By daily prayerfully seeking his Father’s will, Jesus was able to focus on what was truly important, God’s will, and avoid the urgent, seemingly-important things. This is what I need to do: before making any of my own plans, I should consult with God daily and wait for His instructions. Then, I should plan out my day, putting focus on just the important things, and work to accomplish those.

I’m also planning going to add an extra hour or so to my Sunday Ritual to do some “spiritual inventory,” where I’ll look back on the past week and see where I succeeded in accomplishing the spiritually important, and where I failed, and plan for the upcoming week.

So here’s the plan for my Sunday Ritual:

• Wake up and eat breakfast (or lunch, depending on how late I wake up). Bring along two books: The Bible, and another nonfiction book on the Christian life (right now, it’s Blue Like Jazz). Take an hour or so reading both, starting with the Bible, and get my mind going. Take notes. Look for applications.
• Go to the library (or another quiet spot) and spend a couple hours evaluating the previous week and preparing for the one ahead. Consult with the Big Man Upstairs and determine what things I did well, and what things I need to improve. Plan out my class schedule, figuring out what tests and projects are coming up, and schedule specific dates and times to study or work on these.
• Relax. Take a walk, read a book, practice juggling…just spend time doing things that don’t require a lot of brain power.
• Spend another couple of hours working on (important) things that are coming up in the next week. Do some studying. Knock down some projects.
• Go to church.
• Sketch out a specific schedule for Monday. Then spend the rest of the evening relaxing.

I’m pretty sure that, for the first few weeks, I’ll have trouble keeping this ritual. But, hopefully, after some time this will become habit. Hopefully, but waiting on God’s instruction, planning out a specific schedule, and steering clear of urgent distractions, I’ll slowly break away from the tyranny of the urgent and start doing what’s really important.

If you’ve been trying to contact me, and I haven’t been responding, my apologies. If you would leave me a comment on this article, I will do my best to sort out the problem and answer your question as soon as possible.

I had the opportunity today to take part in a Q&A with Ben Drawbaugh and Richard Lawler of Engadget HD. I thoroughly enjoyed myself! Today marks one of the few times where I’ve had the privilege to sit in the same room with some pretty important people from a pretty famous blog and ask them questions.

Some guys from Zagg were also there, and I got some free swag from them. They gave me a pair of $60-$80 Z.buds and a gift card.

So yeah, my day was pretty spectacular. (I love going to Georgia Tech.)

Okay, while that may not be exciting news to you, the fact that Amazon is offering everyone a free MP3 to celebrate might be. Just head over to http://snurl.com/firstmil, enter FIRSTMIL as a promotion code, and grab your free song. (You do need an Amazon account in order for this to work, but it’s pretty trivial to sign up and get one.)

Here’s an opportunity to get a free song, legally. Why pass up a deal like this? The deal ends September 6, so don’t miss out.

I’ve been thinking about whether or not I should include my college updates on this website. I’ve decided to dedicate a separate tumblelog for that purpose. If you really want to know about how my life at Georgia Tech is, you can check out what I’ve been doing at lifeatgatech.tumblr.com. I’ll still probably post a few college-related posts on this website (hopefully it will be more overlap than duplication), but those posts will be relevant to people other than Georgia Tech students.

Anyway. Off to bed for me; time to wrap up this wonderful day.

Our neighbors, on the other hand, aren’t so likable. Last night, they were testing out their high-end stereo system to see just how loudly they could blast it. They would pump it full blast and have guys stand outside to see if it could be heard. That’s going to take some getting used to.

This morning I went to church with my dad and had lunch with him afterward. We got back just in time for Freshman Convocation, which was much more boring than I expected. (But it wasn’t unbearable.) After the convocation, there was a Caribbean party for all of the freshman. Apparently, here at Tech, if there are a large group of people, and food, it’s a party. The whole event was nothing more than us freshman sitting at tables and talking to each other. Not what I had in mind, but it was still very enjoyable. (This is when I realized how cool my roommates are.)

First day of classes is tomorrow. We’ll see how that goes.

I wonder how Jesus felt, knowing that it was time for him to leave his friends. If it felt anything like I feel now, leaving my friends and family behind and moving to Atlanta, then…I’m sure that last supper was very emotional.

I had the opportunity this morning to feed my son breakfast. Probably for the last time. I’m still trying to completely wrap my mind around that fact.

When I went into the kitchen he was already in his high chair, yellow spoon in hand, feeding himself. I sighed through a smile: half of me wanted to grab the spoon from his hand and feed him his grits myself, but the other half of me just wanted to stand there and watch him enjoy his meal without being dependent on me.

After some thought I went to the pantry and grabbed some Cap’n Crunch and milk and sat down on a stool beside his high chair. I started to eat, watching him watch me watch him. After a while he started taking bites when I took bites. It made me laugh, and my laughing made him laugh. So we just ate our breakfast together in laughter and synchronization.

It was a good last breakfast.

I wonder how Jesus felt about those who didn’t understand that he was leaving. Frustrated? Sad? I didn’t realize it until now, but I kind of feel like that with Timan. He doesn’t know that I’m even leaving. He probably doesn’t grasp the fact that I won’t be there to put in his Blues Clues videos or drive him to his babysitter or give him high fives or tickle him anymore.

My sisters tell me that when I was away at camp this summer, Timan would run into my room and call my name and look for me when he saw that I wasn’t there. But when I came back on the weekends, he would be so excited to see me. But I won’t be coming back on the weekends anymore.

Whenever I pull my black Toyota Corolla into the driveway, the wheels make a really loud creaking sound. Timan knows that I’m home by that sound. Whenever we drive past our house and he sees that car in the grass, he calls out my name. To him, that’s my car. But after this week, when he passes that car and shouts “KARIO!” and points, it won’t be mine anymore.

I wonder how long it will take for him to realize that I don’t occupy that room or drive that car any longer. I wonder when his brain will register that I’m not going to be a major part of his life anymore. I wonder if he will ever forget me. I wonder if we’ll ever be as close as I want to be with him.

I’m going to stop writing this post and go hug him and tell him that I love him and I wish I could be around to see him grow up. I’m going to list all of the big brother things I wish we could do together. But I know that he won’t even care and that I’m interrupting Steve as he tries to figure out what Blue is trying to say.

I think I know how Blue feels.