The Royce Files

Last weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time with young and old people at Inspiration Point . We worshiped, played, listened, and prayed. In between we ate. I have been at these retreats twice before and like before it was an incredible time. Ben Goodman and Jeremy Gwaltney (both of North Carolina) were the speakers for the retreat. I had the opportunity to chaffer them. My friends Mark and Anna Haugen helped organize the retreat and once again did an outstanding job. Although it was a small turnout (about 30), it was a quality time for all that attended. Jim McCracken was even there. Incredible. I can and should say more but I am planning a web page essay on the even. Hopefully soon.

Today I will take a jab at love. Being happily and advantageously single I find it irking that some would enter this "love circle." Beaming with stars in their eyes, they soak in this emotional high. What really gets my goat is that then they abandon all else and simply dote on this one love. Hey they even get engaged to make it legit. Oh my how passions doth burn! I am of the kind that says love's passion doth burn but thou shalt have self control. Love is romantic and emotional. No questioning that. It is a powerful realmn. But love is not merely those things. Emotions come and go. Committment, faithfulness, sacrifice- now this is the hard part of love but perhaps its deepest expression. I may be sounding like a crank- yes I am sounding as one. So here is my gripe- let's realize we are in love, recognize romance, but pursue the utmost for his honor above all. Just because one has waited three, five, or ten years for the one does not give license to let our emoti...

Today marked my move into the postcard business. After days on the web press I move up a floor and get to look at pleasant 3x5 pictures for over 9 hours a day starting at the crack of dawn. I admit I don't really enjoy the hours (6am to who knows), but it sure is unique. I cannot believe the amount of postcards that get printed in Fargo . There were cards for places in Montana, North Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, Ohio and California. My favorite card of the day was one of a train. I think it was for someplace in Montana. It has a single shot of a refurbished Chicago Milwaukee St.Paul and Pacific E 70 Locomotive. The story behind the train is it was originally built to be used on the Trans-Siberian Railroad but then Ruso-American relations broke down and so the Milwaukee bought a whole dozen of these engines for a bargain. They are nick named little Joe in honor of Joseph Stalin, that crazy leader. This engine had a really good back story on how it was saved. I took some of the th...

I auditioned the other day for a musical comedy based on Shakespeare's Tempest at the local community theatre. I decided to do it at the last minute and found no music to sing. I ended up singing the usual suspect - Happy Birthday. It took no more than 2 minutes. There were tons of kids auditoning. I am not sure I want to make call backs but whatever the Lord wills. I auditioned because I want to be an actor and that's what actors do when they are not acting. But on the other hand I want to train for the next running season. I want to kick a soccer ball around. I'll be working downtown so I can check the stagedoor.

I laced up my New Balance 716s this evening and ran in the dark as is my custom. It was a bit a chilly but virtually no wind. The weather has been getting better the past week but I was suffering from sinus congestion. I then started to suffer from running anxiety. Whenever I saw someone running I would feel a deep tug in my soul. This also happens when I contemplate my physique or check out upcoming races. So I hope to return to fine tuned running machine condition shortly so I can knock off a few pounds and take in an early season race or two.

I finished up my stint at the boys class B tournament on Saturday by working the incredibly busy Wowie Maui (sic) stand. Clad in Hawaiian shirt I assisted the owners in a massive sell out of fruit smoothie beverages. I sampled quite a bit of the Mango Orange Banana. Needless to say the stand was raking in the dough and kept us all busy from nearly 7:30 until 9:30 PM. It was a real money tree shaker as those in the sales business sometimes say. On the court Dickinson Trinity defeated Milnor for the championship. I saw the last minute of the game. Unlike Trinity's earlier games, the Titans dominated Milnor throughout. They eventually won by about 19 points. Trinity were lead predominantly by a bushy haired guy named Chad Glasser. He seemed to be the heart and soul of the team with his big hair. Trinity fans streamed down from the stands after the win to collectively mob the team with admiration. Minnesota kicks off their boys basketball tourney next weekend. Morris will be sendi...

Yesterday I got to work at the FargoDome selling Dippin Dots to fans of the Class B Boys Basketball Tournament . The tournament is for the smaller schools but is much more revered than the Class A (big school) tournament. Has a great back story which I will forgo telling. Regional public television made a documentary about it - One Shining Moment: History of the North Dakota State B. It is by no means Hoosiers but dang near close. Yesterday's upset - Dickinson Trinity beats previously undefeated New Rockford-Sheyenne . I'll be back at the dome on Saturday to see who will be crowned champion.