I'd highly recommend getting your very own website. Since JeremyBear.com went live, I've heard from some of the most wonderful people I've ever had the pleasure to meet... Old friends, old colleagues, and dear family members have been stumbling across it, and dropping me the odd note here and there. So far, everyone has been very charitable with kind words about the site. It sort of makes me wish we weren't leaving so soon for a place so far way.

Argh. Onward and upward.
...

Last night our cell group (which, for those heretofore unacquainted with the term, is something like a Bible study - minus the pretense) threw a lovely little going-away bash for us, and also presented us with some very generous parting gifts. It's nice to be surrounded by people who truly authenticate what Church is supposed to be about. Dave & Johanna Matheny, Dave & Kelly Hassenzahl, Dave & Renee Reinke, Scott & Emily Sutton, and Nate & Barb (soon to be) Case... you people make it difficult to leave. Thanks, and we love you guys.

"And in The End, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Fortunately for Carey and me, the Beatles were wrong: we've received far more than we've given, and for that we're truly overwhelmed.

posted by Jeremy Bear 12:19 PM

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Monday, July 15, 2002

My conscience can't allow me to neglect to post this: The issue with North American I mentioned yesterday has been resolved. Huzzah. We get to keep our Guaranteed Price. In the end, their office made a nearly-expensive clerical error. But, no sweat, we're all right. Old Jeff was indeed as good as his word.

posted by Jeremy Bear 1:30 PM

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Hallelujah, it's rainin' scripts. Yesterday's was so much fun, I added another. Because you'd have demanded it, had I given you the chance: Only at Wally Rocket . Enjoy and You're Welcome.

posted by Jeremy Bear 12:10 PM

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Sunday, July 14, 2002

Since it's been far too long since I'd done a freestyle script, I decided to take a few minutes to pen one and add it to the Scripts section...

For your delight and edification: Rats in the Cradle

Oh, and feel free to read any of the others on the Scripts page, if you can stomach the lunacy. I have neither defense nor apologies.

posted by Jeremy Bear 10:25 PM

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The movers: these men were burly. At least one of them must have had a degree in engineering, because they managed to cram every inch of our home into a few narrow cubic feet on this behemoth of a tractor trailer. We're using North American, who specializes in big, bulk-shipments, so our home was on the truck with the homes of about 4 other families.

After situating and re-situating our possessions into a compressed brick wall of everything we've ever bought, the driver gave us some upsetting news.

BURLY MOVER: All right, Mr. Bear, that's about it. We just need a signature. Oh, by the way, you do know that you're over on weight, right? That's more than the estimate. You've got at least 4,000 lbs. on that truck.

JER: Really? Hm. Well, what do you do, huh? We'll see you guys in California!

BURLY MOVER: ...Right... I just didn't want you guys to have any surprises. Just warning you ahead ot time on the poundage.

JER: ...?...

CAREY: Are you saying that's going to affect our price?

BURLY MOVER: Most definitely.

JER: Oh, no it won't, see, because Jeff promised us a Guaranteed Price. He was vehement about the Guaranteed Price. "No chance whatsoever of the price changing from this estimate," he said, "because we're giving you a Guaranteed Price."

BURLY MOVER: Well, that's not what's on this contract.

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And it was true. The Guaranteed Price that old Jeff, in all his rhyme and meter, had promised us, wasn't demonstrated on the contract. This was disconcerting to say the least. Instead, the contract represented that we'd pay the difference in the event that they'd underestimated our weight... hhh... Jeff, Jeff, Jeff... so, we're going to attempt to straighten all this out tomorrow. I REALLY don't want this to turn into a battle. Truly I don't.

But, in the end, our earthly goods are now doing about 70 mph in or around the vicinity of Oklahoma, so there's really no turning back. Hell or high water: California, get ready for the Bears.

It just would have been nice to have this conversation before our stuff was on the truck.

posted by Jeremy Bear 7:54 PM

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