Current Mood: somewhat garrulous in certain company
When I'm working hard, I complain about wanting time off, and then when I have some, I don't always know what to do with myself. I'm bad at days off (used to joke about my dad like that), which is probably why I'm just now updating my blog since [checks] June. Well, here we are, Thanksgiving break, and I'm pacing awkwardly around the apartment like a nervous...thing, cleaning and organizing a few things, watching something half-heartedly for a bit before I'm onto something else. Even this post is taking me forever to write (he typed, out of order).
I think it boils down to A) I always feel like I should be doing something else [mostly studying, working on school things, or cleaning because I'm somewhat neurotic], and so when I only have a little bit of time (for example, a few hours between dinner and bed) my options are limited, so there's not much to decide or even dwell on - priorities get lined up easily enough and I start at the top and go until I can't or won't. And B) when I actually DO get a break (a long weekend, time off from school, etc.) I'm reluctant to dive into something larger like tackle a video game I've owned for YEARS but never really played, because I know I won't finish before I have to go back to the routine, and even worse I've had times where I get so sucked into a project it becomes my all consuming focus and I start slacking on the things that MUST be done. I'd rather dampen my expectations and ambitions to ease the eventual transition back to the normal day-to-day stuff, how sad is that?
I miss some of my college friends. Some of them long moved away, growing up and moving on, but some I haven't stayed connected with them beyond writing "Happy Birthday" once a year on their Facebook walls, which admittedly is more than some of my other friends but is a hollow, false approximation of friendship. Maybe I'm putting too much of it on my own shoulders - friendship is a 2 way street and people change over time, right? Others friends have more recently graduated, and I have squandered my more than fair share of time with them in the same city, geographical proximity being an apparently under appreciated or underestimated barrier to closeness. I'm woefully under prepared to soon become the person moving away myself, having been in a state of academic arrested development for nearly a decade (much more on that later).
My family has recently undergone more upheaval and restructuring than I thought would ever happen, topping the previous high that was already nigh-unbelievable (to me, at least). Not all of it is bad, mind you, but when I tell people about our made up holiday (ThanXmus) that supposedly solves all of our travel and togetherness issues, it's a lie about something that works better in theory than in practice, at least with our family.
Also, I am basically 5 months (a few more weeks, plus spring semester) away from finally (FINALLY) graduating. It's a mixed up set of emotions, thoughts, and goals, but I'm closing in. Unfortunately, it is really starting to take a financial toll on me and Jenny. I'm sure we'll get through it, but right now I'm a mood to take the first job that comes along, just to know something. Having flashbacks to right around our wedding, where we didn't know where we'd be living, where/if Jenny would have a job, and if I could even continue to go to school. Probably the best lesson to take from that was that things worked out pretty well, but those sorts of thoughts don't pay bills, write papers, or get jobs.
Now it's time to ignore school for a bit and see my in-laws.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
11.21.2012
6.17.2012
A holiday in flux
Current Mood: distant
Today is Father's Day, so here's two memories about my dad:
STORY THE FIRST
My dad had some strange friends when I growing up- a motley crew from his hellraising days as a youth. One guy I don't ever remember actually meeting was a guy my parents referred to as "The Colonel". If it was at all connected to military service, I certainly never heard a word about it. Anyway, I always thought that was the coolest nickname and they wouldn't have given it to anybody that wasn't a super badass. That's all.
SECOND STORY
It's not really hard to figure out where I got my music tastes. Just about all of my favorite bands - Queen, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Tom Petty, David Bowie, Foreigner, Sweet (to name a few) were the soundtrack of my youth courtesy of my Dad. He had milk crates full of classic vinyl albums, and I borrowed most of his cassettes to blast from my R2-D2 Walkman and later my car stereo all the way through high school.
Some of my favorite memories are riding around in the car with him and my brother and sister, singing all the harmonies and air-guitaring/drumming/other applicable instruments-ing all the parts to Bohemian Rhapsody or Ballroom Blitz (like that car commercial, but we were like, a million times better). Or how he'd make a big breakfast almost every Sunday, and crank some tunes to go along with (something I've started doing now that I'm living on my own).
At any rate, at one point I asked him how cool it must have been for him growing up, going to record stores and concerts and playing 8-tracks from his first car... and he told me very somberly that most of his peers thought Queen was really strange and how "gay" it was to like them. How he had to hide his favorite band from his friends to not be made fun of.
Make no mistake, Freddie Mercury was a very strange man - I won't deny that for a second. But I suppose there was quite a shift in attitudes by the time I was his age, and I have never worried or cared for a moment what my friends thought of my favorite music. For that I am grateful, but also a little sad for him having to deal with that growing up.
Anyway, I still listen to those bands a ton, and a lot of times I think of him when I hear certain songs.
Today is Father's Day, so here's two memories about my dad:
STORY THE FIRST
My dad had some strange friends when I growing up- a motley crew from his hellraising days as a youth. One guy I don't ever remember actually meeting was a guy my parents referred to as "The Colonel". If it was at all connected to military service, I certainly never heard a word about it. Anyway, I always thought that was the coolest nickname and they wouldn't have given it to anybody that wasn't a super badass. That's all.
SECOND STORY
It's not really hard to figure out where I got my music tastes. Just about all of my favorite bands - Queen, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Tom Petty, David Bowie, Foreigner, Sweet (to name a few) were the soundtrack of my youth courtesy of my Dad. He had milk crates full of classic vinyl albums, and I borrowed most of his cassettes to blast from my R2-D2 Walkman and later my car stereo all the way through high school.
Some of my favorite memories are riding around in the car with him and my brother and sister, singing all the harmonies and air-guitaring/drumming/other applicable instruments-ing all the parts to Bohemian Rhapsody or Ballroom Blitz (like that car commercial, but we were like, a million times better). Or how he'd make a big breakfast almost every Sunday, and crank some tunes to go along with (something I've started doing now that I'm living on my own).
At any rate, at one point I asked him how cool it must have been for him growing up, going to record stores and concerts and playing 8-tracks from his first car... and he told me very somberly that most of his peers thought Queen was really strange and how "gay" it was to like them. How he had to hide his favorite band from his friends to not be made fun of.
Make no mistake, Freddie Mercury was a very strange man - I won't deny that for a second. But I suppose there was quite a shift in attitudes by the time I was his age, and I have never worried or cared for a moment what my friends thought of my favorite music. For that I am grateful, but also a little sad for him having to deal with that growing up.
Anyway, I still listen to those bands a ton, and a lot of times I think of him when I hear certain songs.
6.03.2012
the backside of 20
Current Mood: grateful
I promise I will write about my internship soon, but I wanted to type this one up before it fell by the wayside.
I was never a big birthday kinda person. I mean, as a kid, I loved getting stuff. I liked getting some special attention from my family. I went to a couple of birthday parties of other kids, and for my 16th birthday my mom let me take a few of my very close buds to (I think) laser tag. Other than that, not really a big fanfare - I don't set my alarm extra early, I don't know or particularly care what *time* I was born, and while I don't mind people knowing when my birthday is or celebrating it, I don't really go out of my way to announce it. I don't hide it, but I won't bring it up in conversation, does that make sense?
Plus, on top of that, I kinda like to sit at home and do my own thing most nights. I mean, yeah, I like to go out sometimes and do things but when I do, I much prefer them to be scheduled in advance with a set start and end time. I realize this probably makes me sound like a robot or a huge introvert or both, but that's just how it is. Deal with it.
So when it comes to birthdays, especially now that I'm older (ugh this is making me sound like an adult), I think my ideal celebration is probably just going out to a nice dinner someplace I like to eat with people I really like - like Gold Star Chili with my family or Triple XXX with the Ship of Fools, something like that. I don't even really care that much about presents - I know plenty of college students who really can't afford it, I'd prefer something personal instead of generic which can be tough (ask Jenny), and I don't like it when I have to guess what level of friendship I am with somebody and feel reciprocal gift obligation. Plus I don't want a bunch of things that I can't use (I still move too much these days). And now that I have a summer birthday (K-12 I did not, now I do and summer birthday people get totally ignored, haha) I've been at Purdue for the past few years when my birthday rolls around.
SO anyway, with that all in mind, this year was a little different. I'm in Texas for my birthday, and at this point I've been here all of a week and a half. I don't really know many people around here, I don't know many cool places, I'm broke and I have no car.
The night before I got kinda bummed. I was feeling homesick, missing my wife, and feeling stupid that I suddenly wanted my birthday to be a bigger deal.
Well, at midnight I started getting some text messages. Then more when I woke up. When I got to work we had a meeting with our whole intern group, and 97 interns kicked it off by singing Happy Birthday to me (probably the largest group I've ever had sing that to me!) [the meeting was not for my birthday, FYI]. Several friends and family called me and left me birthday wishes on my phone.
Facebook blew up with birthday messages, and I used to not think it was that big of a deal. This year, I can honestly say I've never been so happy to read those messages. I wanted to give every single one of those people a hug. So much birthday love when I was feeling homesick, and each message gave me a smile.
When I done with work, my friend Andrew (and his new gf Kimberly) took me out to a local brewpub/steakhouse/sports bar where we got to watch hockey (Stanley Cup game 1) and baseball (Reds!). I got a plush T.Rex and some Hulk gloves, and ordered a giant steak. Got a free dessert, and they insisted on paying for me.
Then, when I got home from that, I found out that Jenny had arranged for a local dessert company to deliver 2 dozen freshly baked cookies (and milk) to my apartment! She even knew that even though the company had several varieties of cookies to pick, I would only want chocolate chip and M&M ones. Love this woman.
So when it was all said and done, I had a pretty killer birthday, and it happened exactly when I needed it!
Oh, I will also mention that Jenny got me a super cool gift. Some backstory (as if this post wasn't long enough): at some point around when I was in middle school, my mom let us pick if we got presents, or she would give us a fixed amount of money and take us shopping for whatever we wanted. Me, being the kid that I was, did not take this opportunity to go wild and purchase whatever suited my fancy, no, it became an exercise in planning and careful calculations, using the most recent Toys R Us ad from the Sunday paper, and later a bit of internet research (yes, at that time, the internet was a fringe thing).
This once a year opportunity was the one chance I had to purchase some big ticket items that otherwise were hopelessly out of my reach, allowance wise. For three straight years, this included going after a large Star Wars Micro Machine playset that went along with all of my various Star Wars space ships and figurines. The first year I got the Hoth playset, the second year I got the Death Star, and by the time the third year rolled around...the Yavin playset was gone. Nowhere to be found.
I don't want to be melodramatic, but I was devastated. I pined for it in a way that only a child and collector could, and as the years wore on I looked for it, but I never saw it again. Heck, the Star Wars Micro Machine line really died off not long after that, and it appeared that that chapter of my life was closed.
You can probably guess where this is going, but I'm gonna tell you anyway. Fast forward to this year, where on a bored weekend Jenny watched the entire Star Wars Trilogy (OT of course) back to back to back with me. While we were hanging out, I got out ALL my old Star Wars toys and she patiently humored me while I explained that the differences between the different TIE fighter models (the Empire chose to specialize their fighters based on mission profile rather than develop a true all purpose craft), and that it wasn't until just before the Battle of Endor that the Rebel Alliance had the resources to develop the B-Wing starfighter, things like that. I also told her about my childhood-defining tale of never managing to find the Yavin playset...the one that got away.
Well, just before I left for Texas Jenny gave me my birthday present, and lo and behold it was the Yavin playset, custom ordered from a specialty toy shop! She remembered my story and figured out *exactly* which one it was (which, given the dearth of options when it comes to Star Wars toys, trust me, there's plenty of opportunity for confusion). It was a total blast from the past (I didn't know any still existed!) and was yet another example of my excellent wife getting me a great gift that was very personal and meaningful.
I promise I will write about my internship soon, but I wanted to type this one up before it fell by the wayside.
I was never a big birthday kinda person. I mean, as a kid, I loved getting stuff. I liked getting some special attention from my family. I went to a couple of birthday parties of other kids, and for my 16th birthday my mom let me take a few of my very close buds to (I think) laser tag. Other than that, not really a big fanfare - I don't set my alarm extra early, I don't know or particularly care what *time* I was born, and while I don't mind people knowing when my birthday is or celebrating it, I don't really go out of my way to announce it. I don't hide it, but I won't bring it up in conversation, does that make sense?
Plus, on top of that, I kinda like to sit at home and do my own thing most nights. I mean, yeah, I like to go out sometimes and do things but when I do, I much prefer them to be scheduled in advance with a set start and end time. I realize this probably makes me sound like a robot or a huge introvert or both, but that's just how it is. Deal with it.
So when it comes to birthdays, especially now that I'm older (ugh this is making me sound like an adult), I think my ideal celebration is probably just going out to a nice dinner someplace I like to eat with people I really like - like Gold Star Chili with my family or Triple XXX with the Ship of Fools, something like that. I don't even really care that much about presents - I know plenty of college students who really can't afford it, I'd prefer something personal instead of generic which can be tough (ask Jenny), and I don't like it when I have to guess what level of friendship I am with somebody and feel reciprocal gift obligation. Plus I don't want a bunch of things that I can't use (I still move too much these days). And now that I have a summer birthday (K-12 I did not, now I do and summer birthday people get totally ignored, haha) I've been at Purdue for the past few years when my birthday rolls around.
SO anyway, with that all in mind, this year was a little different. I'm in Texas for my birthday, and at this point I've been here all of a week and a half. I don't really know many people around here, I don't know many cool places, I'm broke and I have no car.
The night before I got kinda bummed. I was feeling homesick, missing my wife, and feeling stupid that I suddenly wanted my birthday to be a bigger deal.
Well, at midnight I started getting some text messages. Then more when I woke up. When I got to work we had a meeting with our whole intern group, and 97 interns kicked it off by singing Happy Birthday to me (probably the largest group I've ever had sing that to me!) [the meeting was not for my birthday, FYI]. Several friends and family called me and left me birthday wishes on my phone.
Facebook blew up with birthday messages, and I used to not think it was that big of a deal. This year, I can honestly say I've never been so happy to read those messages. I wanted to give every single one of those people a hug. So much birthday love when I was feeling homesick, and each message gave me a smile.
When I done with work, my friend Andrew (and his new gf Kimberly) took me out to a local brewpub/steakhouse/sports bar where we got to watch hockey (Stanley Cup game 1) and baseball (Reds!). I got a plush T.Rex and some Hulk gloves, and ordered a giant steak. Got a free dessert, and they insisted on paying for me.
Then, when I got home from that, I found out that Jenny had arranged for a local dessert company to deliver 2 dozen freshly baked cookies (and milk) to my apartment! She even knew that even though the company had several varieties of cookies to pick, I would only want chocolate chip and M&M ones. Love this woman.
So when it was all said and done, I had a pretty killer birthday, and it happened exactly when I needed it!
Oh, I will also mention that Jenny got me a super cool gift. Some backstory (as if this post wasn't long enough): at some point around when I was in middle school, my mom let us pick if we got presents, or she would give us a fixed amount of money and take us shopping for whatever we wanted. Me, being the kid that I was, did not take this opportunity to go wild and purchase whatever suited my fancy, no, it became an exercise in planning and careful calculations, using the most recent Toys R Us ad from the Sunday paper, and later a bit of internet research (yes, at that time, the internet was a fringe thing).
This once a year opportunity was the one chance I had to purchase some big ticket items that otherwise were hopelessly out of my reach, allowance wise. For three straight years, this included going after a large Star Wars Micro Machine playset that went along with all of my various Star Wars space ships and figurines. The first year I got the Hoth playset, the second year I got the Death Star, and by the time the third year rolled around...the Yavin playset was gone. Nowhere to be found.
I don't want to be melodramatic, but I was devastated. I pined for it in a way that only a child and collector could, and as the years wore on I looked for it, but I never saw it again. Heck, the Star Wars Micro Machine line really died off not long after that, and it appeared that that chapter of my life was closed.
You can probably guess where this is going, but I'm gonna tell you anyway. Fast forward to this year, where on a bored weekend Jenny watched the entire Star Wars Trilogy (OT of course) back to back to back with me. While we were hanging out, I got out ALL my old Star Wars toys and she patiently humored me while I explained that the differences between the different TIE fighter models (the Empire chose to specialize their fighters based on mission profile rather than develop a true all purpose craft), and that it wasn't until just before the Battle of Endor that the Rebel Alliance had the resources to develop the B-Wing starfighter, things like that. I also told her about my childhood-defining tale of never managing to find the Yavin playset...the one that got away.
Well, just before I left for Texas Jenny gave me my birthday present, and lo and behold it was the Yavin playset, custom ordered from a specialty toy shop! She remembered my story and figured out *exactly* which one it was (which, given the dearth of options when it comes to Star Wars toys, trust me, there's plenty of opportunity for confusion). It was a total blast from the past (I didn't know any still existed!) and was yet another example of my excellent wife getting me a great gift that was very personal and meaningful.
5.25.2012
A Limited Window
Current Mood: I remember it!
We'd finally gotten to San Antonio, where Airman Bradley had been enlisted in the Air Force since early February. I narrowly missed seeing his graduation from Basic Training due to my class schedule and the expense of flying (I contemplated driving, what an awful idea that would have been). Then he started Tech School there, and we found out afterward he'd be leaving to go to Germany for his job! My visit to Texas for my internship happened to provide the perfect opportunity for me to see him for possibly the only time before he left!
I was so happy to see him when we finally arrived - in part because it was the end of the trip, but also because doggone it I missed him pretty bad! For a day and a half we enjoyed San Antonio - stayed in a hotel to get him off base. We ate barbeque, we swam in the hotel pool, we had some drinks, and he told us hours of stories about military life and Basic shenanigans. I really loved hearing his stories - he's got a little different demeanor after enlisting, but especially hearing him tell jokes about the little screwups and victories, it really felt like he was still my brother. He did awesome at Basic, if you're wondering - I'm super proud of him.
We toured his base - got to see the areas I'd seen in pictures where he did PT, took test, trained with his rifle, things like that. Saw the parade grounds, Airman's Run area, even some static planes on display (although when you've seen WPAFB...nothing compares!). Brad insisted that seeing his dorm buildings was no big deal, but our family has always had a thing about seeing where people live and work- I know it helps me picture that person living there and being happy. We also got go to a cool Base Exchange (BX) store and check out some military gear. The whole time Bradley shared some little bits of military lingo... I couldn't always remember it all, but I think it's super neat.
We explored San Antonio a little bit. We saw the outside of The Alamo (apparently it closes at like, 4?) and I saw enough of the plaques outside to move on. Kinda...underwhelming? Didn't help that it was sandwiched between giant skyscrapers - I felt like that detracted from the historical aspect. Anyway, we went down to the Riverwalk. I got another bent penny for my collection, and then we waited a bit to take a boat tour. The tour was great! A good mix of things to learn, like how I had completely forgotten that Miss Congeniality takes place there.
Nabbed a sweet riverside table at a mexican restaurant in part because the waiter liked Brad's Reds hat! His favorite player was Joe Morgan of the Big Red Machine. We had dinner and people watched for a bit, and we waited hours for the christmas lights strung ALL over to light up...nothing!
The end of the visit was bittersweet. Bradley and I were pretty businesslike, but mom cried a lot (as moms are both wont and allowed to do). I don't know when I'll see him next, but I bet he'll be a little more grown up and a lot more worldly!
The next day I dropped mom off at the San Antonio airport (she had an awful trip home, with delays and hours and hours of flights/airport waits - thanks for going with me, mom!) and drove 4 hours back to Dallas. After being surrounded by family for about 3 straight days, it was a lonely drive. SICK of being in the car.
My apartment check in was surprisingly smooth. I picked it completely sight unseen, working with an unknown roommate (Nick, also an intern with me) - so I'm glad it played out okay. Probably my only complaint was that I couldn't show proof of income [my internship was still 3 days from starting at this point], so the company insists on holding a massive extra deposit while I'm here. I will make enough money to cover it just fine...over the course of the 3 months I'm working! Cash flow priorities, for sure.
Moved my stuff in - place is nice, probably somewhere between my current place and our last one. Big, and especially with my meager offerings, feels very empty. Still, it's in a nice area, has central air [does any place in this heat scorched landscape not have central air?], a pool in the complex, isn't too far from work, and is close to food and groceries and stuff.
Picked up roommate from the airport on Monday with my rental car. We went to some stores and bought some essentials, but as my "you stupid idiot, how could you forget _____" list indicates, there remains some items to be had. For the most part, I've tried to lay low, beat the heat, not spend a lot of money by going out, and get ready for my internship!
We'd finally gotten to San Antonio, where Airman Bradley had been enlisted in the Air Force since early February. I narrowly missed seeing his graduation from Basic Training due to my class schedule and the expense of flying (I contemplated driving, what an awful idea that would have been). Then he started Tech School there, and we found out afterward he'd be leaving to go to Germany for his job! My visit to Texas for my internship happened to provide the perfect opportunity for me to see him for possibly the only time before he left!
I was so happy to see him when we finally arrived - in part because it was the end of the trip, but also because doggone it I missed him pretty bad! For a day and a half we enjoyed San Antonio - stayed in a hotel to get him off base. We ate barbeque, we swam in the hotel pool, we had some drinks, and he told us hours of stories about military life and Basic shenanigans. I really loved hearing his stories - he's got a little different demeanor after enlisting, but especially hearing him tell jokes about the little screwups and victories, it really felt like he was still my brother. He did awesome at Basic, if you're wondering - I'm super proud of him.
We toured his base - got to see the areas I'd seen in pictures where he did PT, took test, trained with his rifle, things like that. Saw the parade grounds, Airman's Run area, even some static planes on display (although when you've seen WPAFB...nothing compares!). Brad insisted that seeing his dorm buildings was no big deal, but our family has always had a thing about seeing where people live and work- I know it helps me picture that person living there and being happy. We also got go to a cool Base Exchange (BX) store and check out some military gear. The whole time Bradley shared some little bits of military lingo... I couldn't always remember it all, but I think it's super neat.
We explored San Antonio a little bit. We saw the outside of The Alamo (apparently it closes at like, 4?) and I saw enough of the plaques outside to move on. Kinda...underwhelming? Didn't help that it was sandwiched between giant skyscrapers - I felt like that detracted from the historical aspect. Anyway, we went down to the Riverwalk. I got another bent penny for my collection, and then we waited a bit to take a boat tour. The tour was great! A good mix of things to learn, like how I had completely forgotten that Miss Congeniality takes place there.
Nabbed a sweet riverside table at a mexican restaurant in part because the waiter liked Brad's Reds hat! His favorite player was Joe Morgan of the Big Red Machine. We had dinner and people watched for a bit, and we waited hours for the christmas lights strung ALL over to light up...nothing!
The end of the visit was bittersweet. Bradley and I were pretty businesslike, but mom cried a lot (as moms are both wont and allowed to do). I don't know when I'll see him next, but I bet he'll be a little more grown up and a lot more worldly!
The next day I dropped mom off at the San Antonio airport (she had an awful trip home, with delays and hours and hours of flights/airport waits - thanks for going with me, mom!) and drove 4 hours back to Dallas. After being surrounded by family for about 3 straight days, it was a lonely drive. SICK of being in the car.
My apartment check in was surprisingly smooth. I picked it completely sight unseen, working with an unknown roommate (Nick, also an intern with me) - so I'm glad it played out okay. Probably my only complaint was that I couldn't show proof of income [my internship was still 3 days from starting at this point], so the company insists on holding a massive extra deposit while I'm here. I will make enough money to cover it just fine...over the course of the 3 months I'm working! Cash flow priorities, for sure.
Moved my stuff in - place is nice, probably somewhere between my current place and our last one. Big, and especially with my meager offerings, feels very empty. Still, it's in a nice area, has central air [does any place in this heat scorched landscape not have central air?], a pool in the complex, isn't too far from work, and is close to food and groceries and stuff.
Picked up roommate from the airport on Monday with my rental car. We went to some stores and bought some essentials, but as my "you stupid idiot, how could you forget _____" list indicates, there remains some items to be had. For the most part, I've tried to lay low, beat the heat, not spend a lot of money by going out, and get ready for my internship!
5.24.2012
Highway Companion
Current Mood: as if there were few, if any, limitations on my current situation
A week ago today I left to drive down to Texas for my internship. I'll write more about that soon, but first I wanted to share some thoughts about my big trip to the Lone Star State.
I had originally planned to leave Wednesday morning. When I went to pick up my rental car Tuesday afternoon with my friend Taylor, the rental car company gave me all sorts of hassle - wanted a credit card not a debit card (noted), didn't like my insurance, and balked at the idea that somebody would rent a car for 91 days. Yes, guy at the counter, I need it to get there, to work, to the store, to place and people and things, and then to come home. He said if I wasn't being backed by a corporate insurer, the required insurance would almost double the price, placing the already probably out of my price range into "and monkeys might fly out of my butt" range. So...lovely.
We settled on a one week rental, enough time for me to get where I was going and then get set up, before I had to return it. Once we worked out the details and I explained my plight, the rental company actually cut me a deal, so I managed to get my car early Thursday. Taylor was once again my driver, and I had packed out what I felt was a balance between the absolute bare minimum (basically living out of a suitcase) and backups and extra things for every contingency (what if there's a chilly evening? flannel lined pants!). Had to leave room for other passengers, though.
Got a really nice silver Toyota Corolla, with about 2400 miles on it - practically a preemie for that brand. Also, air conditioning! (something Jenny and my car does not currently have). So I took off from Indy to Cincy. Stopped for some Gold Star before trailing mom to the Louisville airport, where she would later fly home to. Everything was goin' smooth, weather was great, I was good to go.
Then mom takes over the driving, and we drove to Nashville, then to Memphis. Hit some bad stretches of traffic (including one freaky stop where the other side of the highway was completely empty and a single police cruiser started driving against the flow on our side...combined with the setting sun and the scenery, was very The Walking Dead). Stopped for dinner at the Crack B, then made it all the way to just outside of Little Rock. Stopped at an okay hotel, then zonked out.
Back up again early. Continental breakfast, then we were on the road by 7:30am. Got to Texas (finally) around 10:00am. Ate Jack in the Box for the first time. By this point mom and I had basically run out of things to talk about, and we were rockin' out pretty hard to Warrant, Firehouse, Cinderella, stuff like that. Also, it wasn't boredom that got to me, it was the soreness in my back. We finally got to Dallas...and then continued on to San Antonio to see Bradley.
Austin traffic was awful. The whole drive, though, mom and I planned our stops very well - she drove fast enough that the GPS time saved "paid" for our stops, and we combined food, stretches, and gas at each break. We hit more traffic in San Antonio and I was about ready to claw my way out of the car. We finally, FINALLY got to Bradley's Air Force Base at about 5:40pm, not long after he'd gotten out of class for the day. Despite the delay at the rental car station, mom and I managed to cover 1,400 miles in about 25 driving hours (about 34 real time hours). Not bad! Not something I'm looking forward to doing again in August at the end of my internship, for sure. At least I have a few months to worry about that - plus I'd need to find another car, and maybe another driving partner.
A week ago today I left to drive down to Texas for my internship. I'll write more about that soon, but first I wanted to share some thoughts about my big trip to the Lone Star State.
I had originally planned to leave Wednesday morning. When I went to pick up my rental car Tuesday afternoon with my friend Taylor, the rental car company gave me all sorts of hassle - wanted a credit card not a debit card (noted), didn't like my insurance, and balked at the idea that somebody would rent a car for 91 days. Yes, guy at the counter, I need it to get there, to work, to the store, to place and people and things, and then to come home. He said if I wasn't being backed by a corporate insurer, the required insurance would almost double the price, placing the already probably out of my price range into "and monkeys might fly out of my butt" range. So...lovely.
We settled on a one week rental, enough time for me to get where I was going and then get set up, before I had to return it. Once we worked out the details and I explained my plight, the rental company actually cut me a deal, so I managed to get my car early Thursday. Taylor was once again my driver, and I had packed out what I felt was a balance between the absolute bare minimum (basically living out of a suitcase) and backups and extra things for every contingency (what if there's a chilly evening? flannel lined pants!). Had to leave room for other passengers, though.
Got a really nice silver Toyota Corolla, with about 2400 miles on it - practically a preemie for that brand. Also, air conditioning! (something Jenny and my car does not currently have). So I took off from Indy to Cincy. Stopped for some Gold Star before trailing mom to the Louisville airport, where she would later fly home to. Everything was goin' smooth, weather was great, I was good to go.
Then mom takes over the driving, and we drove to Nashville, then to Memphis. Hit some bad stretches of traffic (including one freaky stop where the other side of the highway was completely empty and a single police cruiser started driving against the flow on our side...combined with the setting sun and the scenery, was very The Walking Dead). Stopped for dinner at the Crack B, then made it all the way to just outside of Little Rock. Stopped at an okay hotel, then zonked out.
Back up again early. Continental breakfast, then we were on the road by 7:30am. Got to Texas (finally) around 10:00am. Ate Jack in the Box for the first time. By this point mom and I had basically run out of things to talk about, and we were rockin' out pretty hard to Warrant, Firehouse, Cinderella, stuff like that. Also, it wasn't boredom that got to me, it was the soreness in my back. We finally got to Dallas...and then continued on to San Antonio to see Bradley.
Austin traffic was awful. The whole drive, though, mom and I planned our stops very well - she drove fast enough that the GPS time saved "paid" for our stops, and we combined food, stretches, and gas at each break. We hit more traffic in San Antonio and I was about ready to claw my way out of the car. We finally, FINALLY got to Bradley's Air Force Base at about 5:40pm, not long after he'd gotten out of class for the day. Despite the delay at the rental car station, mom and I managed to cover 1,400 miles in about 25 driving hours (about 34 real time hours). Not bad! Not something I'm looking forward to doing again in August at the end of my internship, for sure. At least I have a few months to worry about that - plus I'd need to find another car, and maybe another driving partner.
6.26.2011
start with the corners, then fill out the border
Current Mood: waiting/anticipating
What a whirlwind week it has been. Well, weekend, really.
First off, the big news - after weeks and weeks of applications, applications, scanning and writing, more applications, and a few interviews, Jenny was offered a job on Friday. She will be teaching 2nd grade in her own classroom at a school here in town. That is pretty much the very best case scenario that either of us could have hoped for- no co-teaching, not on the other side of the state, not even moving grade levels. She likes the principal, they have a Science Club, and did I mention it is seriously close? Closer than her current school. I know she will kick ass there and I'm not an especially sunny optimistic guy but I have to believe that the two years she has spent at her old school has helped her prepare for her first year on her own. It'll probably be tough in the fall, with lots of extra time spent at the school, but we got through student teaching okay so I think we'll be okay. This school does not have the extra school hour her old one did, and it's in a different district - old school was high poverty, high mobility and lots of intervention... new school is likely to be overeager parents and professor's children, so I think things are about to be flipped upside down.
Many many thanks go to everybody who helped Jenny look for job openings everywhere, and I can't believe how awesome her old bio professor has been going to bat for her with the local administrators.
ANYWAY. Now that Jenny has a job and it's in town, we are green lights for finding a new place to live. We have to be out of current apartment in 25 days, so looking for a new place ASAP. So we're moving, losing a roommate, and moving some of Jenny's teaching things to her new room.
Wedding stuff is getting crazy. Yesterday was 4 weeks until wedding and we still have a checklist of just about 95 things to do. Take a day off work to go to the courthouse and apply for a license. Get rings, tuxes. Finalize rehearsal dinner plans. Pick songs to get to DJ. And so on. If you've been married recently, you probably know *exactly* what I'm talking about. I'm sure we'll get it all done, but geez. I'm not nervous to get married, but I'm hoping everything goes well the actual day of the wedding. WEDDING WEDDING WEDDING. Feels like that's all I talk about sometime.
We were so worried about job stuff that we'd put off really doing stuff like getting the a/c fixed in our shared car, or planning a honeymoon, so that stuff is back on now. Y'know, like we don't have enough going on...
This weekend Jenny's family threw us a cookout/bridal shower. I guess co-ed showers are becoming the norm these days but it was really great - she has a giant family and they all pitched in to get us some really nice things. My mom and grandma were the only ones who could make it, so I felt like my family was a little under-represented. But I guess in 4 weeks it will also be my family too, right?
Job stuff has settled down somewhat, which is good. I feel like I'm kinda getting into a groove, getting used to the hours and the tempo and stuff. I don't know that I've made any world-changing discoveries (yet) but I think I'm pretty consistently working through the assignments and projects my boss gives me. It's very different than working there in the summer - during the spring I was trying to grab a few hours here and there and it felt like it was hard to get anything done. Now, I have 8 hours in a row plus 4 other guys there so it's much more productive. We goof off a little bit and Fridays are mostly clean-up days, but I get along pretty okay with the other dudes. I'm pretty sure I will keep working there in the fall.
Super ready for football to start back up again. I hope the CBA talks continue in time for the offseason to get back on track.
Pretty ready for school to start in the fall, too. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 4 more semesters. 2 years. Gonna try to find an internship for next summer, too. Building my resume up so that hopefully when I'm all done here somebody will look at me and say "that's the guy I want to design/invent/maintain/repair my airplane/rocket/spaceship". Or something like that...
What a whirlwind week it has been. Well, weekend, really.
First off, the big news - after weeks and weeks of applications, applications, scanning and writing, more applications, and a few interviews, Jenny was offered a job on Friday. She will be teaching 2nd grade in her own classroom at a school here in town. That is pretty much the very best case scenario that either of us could have hoped for- no co-teaching, not on the other side of the state, not even moving grade levels. She likes the principal, they have a Science Club, and did I mention it is seriously close? Closer than her current school. I know she will kick ass there and I'm not an especially sunny optimistic guy but I have to believe that the two years she has spent at her old school has helped her prepare for her first year on her own. It'll probably be tough in the fall, with lots of extra time spent at the school, but we got through student teaching okay so I think we'll be okay. This school does not have the extra school hour her old one did, and it's in a different district - old school was high poverty, high mobility and lots of intervention... new school is likely to be overeager parents and professor's children, so I think things are about to be flipped upside down.
Many many thanks go to everybody who helped Jenny look for job openings everywhere, and I can't believe how awesome her old bio professor has been going to bat for her with the local administrators.
ANYWAY. Now that Jenny has a job and it's in town, we are green lights for finding a new place to live. We have to be out of current apartment in 25 days, so looking for a new place ASAP. So we're moving, losing a roommate, and moving some of Jenny's teaching things to her new room.
Wedding stuff is getting crazy. Yesterday was 4 weeks until wedding and we still have a checklist of just about 95 things to do. Take a day off work to go to the courthouse and apply for a license. Get rings, tuxes. Finalize rehearsal dinner plans. Pick songs to get to DJ. And so on. If you've been married recently, you probably know *exactly* what I'm talking about. I'm sure we'll get it all done, but geez. I'm not nervous to get married, but I'm hoping everything goes well the actual day of the wedding. WEDDING WEDDING WEDDING. Feels like that's all I talk about sometime.
We were so worried about job stuff that we'd put off really doing stuff like getting the a/c fixed in our shared car, or planning a honeymoon, so that stuff is back on now. Y'know, like we don't have enough going on...
This weekend Jenny's family threw us a cookout/bridal shower. I guess co-ed showers are becoming the norm these days but it was really great - she has a giant family and they all pitched in to get us some really nice things. My mom and grandma were the only ones who could make it, so I felt like my family was a little under-represented. But I guess in 4 weeks it will also be my family too, right?
Job stuff has settled down somewhat, which is good. I feel like I'm kinda getting into a groove, getting used to the hours and the tempo and stuff. I don't know that I've made any world-changing discoveries (yet) but I think I'm pretty consistently working through the assignments and projects my boss gives me. It's very different than working there in the summer - during the spring I was trying to grab a few hours here and there and it felt like it was hard to get anything done. Now, I have 8 hours in a row plus 4 other guys there so it's much more productive. We goof off a little bit and Fridays are mostly clean-up days, but I get along pretty okay with the other dudes. I'm pretty sure I will keep working there in the fall.
Super ready for football to start back up again. I hope the CBA talks continue in time for the offseason to get back on track.
Pretty ready for school to start in the fall, too. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 4 more semesters. 2 years. Gonna try to find an internship for next summer, too. Building my resume up so that hopefully when I'm all done here somebody will look at me and say "that's the guy I want to design/invent/maintain/repair my airplane/rocket/spaceship". Or something like that...
7.06.2009
Limited Time Offer
Current Mood: productive
After 4 straight summers of being an Operations Assistant for Purdue University Residences Conference Services, I've been promoted to Senior Assistant (Staffing) at Earhart Hall.
My former supervisor, Lisa, was hired on as SA for this summer under the arrangement that she'd be leaving July 5th to take a job at Washington State to be a new Residence Live Manager (Purdue's term) there. Originally, the Earhart Hall general manager (Ken) had ok'd the arrangement, thinking he'd shift Lisa's duties for the remainder of the summer (about 5 weeks) to the other SA (Billing) - Tony.
Once the summer got underway, however, it became apparent that things would get pretty hairy if Tony was to take on all that responsibility. The higher ups at the Conferences Division decided to ask somebody to step in as acting SA for the rest of the summer to help out.
Conferences wanted a nomination, and both Lisa and Tony suggested me, after reviewing my experience and job performance so far. Ken was supposed to approve it, but when this happened he was on vacation, so the decision was moved farther up the chain. The women in charge of all of the conferences know who I am (I've worked there for 4 years, remember?) and unanimously approved the move. Bam.
So within the span of a week, I became interim SA, and just today, started my first official day on my own as supervisor. !
I still do everything I was doing as an OA - have duty nights, go on rounds, work the office, help set up and take down various hall functions, give tours for incoming freshmen, and work the check-ins and check-outs for the various conferences that stay at our hall.
In addition, I now am in charge of more. The biggest responsibility is scheduling - I handle the schedule for 7 OAs and myself for the rest of the summer. I also am in charge of the details for every check in and check out, mainly organizing and setting up the key packets for every guest we have. I'm also supposed to be the go-to guy for any problem that comes up - stuck keys, broken elevators, basement floods, fire alarms, angry/sad/lost guests, noise complaints, late workers, and pretty much anything else that may happen. I post signs and door tags, run orientation meetings for conferences, and attend some meetings regarding large scale issues and changes for conferences.
I've moved from part time (20 hrs/week, plus about 10 hrs/week giving tours) to full time (40 hrs/week). I also get a pretty hefty raise, which is *really* nice. The workload varies a lot week-to-week, though.
Some days are easy. I have the schedule done, no conferences are coming or going, and all of my staff does their jobs and everything hums along perfectly.
Other days I'm running around the building trying to find somebody with the training or clearance to fix something I can't, or find something I wasn't quite told where to find, or something like that. So there's quite a lot of on-the job training.
But it's not like I'm completely helpless. The other SA on staff helps out a lot, the hall GM is around most of the time to help, and I've been an OA for several summers before. I'm pretty well versed in customer service, having worked the main desk at Hillenbrand Hall for a few years, and before that I worked in a kitchen at a nursing home. Plus I've been at school for a while, so I know the answers to most Purdue questions like the back of my hand.
It's the first time I've really moved beyond the entry level at a job before, and I feel very proud. This isn't what I have in mind for a lifelong career, but it still feels good. My boss(es) seemed very pleased I was able to step up and have a lot of faith and trust in my abilities and reliability.
I had actually missed the application process to do this job from the start of the summer, so in some way this feels like a second chance. Hopefully this promotion will be a stepping stone to do it again next year.
I remember when I was a little kid, when my dad would sit at the kitchen table with a ruler and a yellow legal pad, crankin' some tunes, working on his schedule. We (siblings) always joked about how dad would completely tune everything else out while he was working on the schedule - we would have to climb up into his lap just to talk to him. Both my parents have been and currently are managers in very stressful, customer-service oriented fields, and I feel like I have a tiny bit more understanding of what that takes.
I hope I can make them proud.
After 4 straight summers of being an Operations Assistant for Purdue University Residences Conference Services, I've been promoted to Senior Assistant (Staffing) at Earhart Hall.
My former supervisor, Lisa, was hired on as SA for this summer under the arrangement that she'd be leaving July 5th to take a job at Washington State to be a new Residence Live Manager (Purdue's term) there. Originally, the Earhart Hall general manager (Ken) had ok'd the arrangement, thinking he'd shift Lisa's duties for the remainder of the summer (about 5 weeks) to the other SA (Billing) - Tony.
Once the summer got underway, however, it became apparent that things would get pretty hairy if Tony was to take on all that responsibility. The higher ups at the Conferences Division decided to ask somebody to step in as acting SA for the rest of the summer to help out.
Conferences wanted a nomination, and both Lisa and Tony suggested me, after reviewing my experience and job performance so far. Ken was supposed to approve it, but when this happened he was on vacation, so the decision was moved farther up the chain. The women in charge of all of the conferences know who I am (I've worked there for 4 years, remember?) and unanimously approved the move. Bam.
So within the span of a week, I became interim SA, and just today, started my first official day on my own as supervisor. !
I still do everything I was doing as an OA - have duty nights, go on rounds, work the office, help set up and take down various hall functions, give tours for incoming freshmen, and work the check-ins and check-outs for the various conferences that stay at our hall.
In addition, I now am in charge of more. The biggest responsibility is scheduling - I handle the schedule for 7 OAs and myself for the rest of the summer. I also am in charge of the details for every check in and check out, mainly organizing and setting up the key packets for every guest we have. I'm also supposed to be the go-to guy for any problem that comes up - stuck keys, broken elevators, basement floods, fire alarms, angry/sad/lost guests, noise complaints, late workers, and pretty much anything else that may happen. I post signs and door tags, run orientation meetings for conferences, and attend some meetings regarding large scale issues and changes for conferences.
I've moved from part time (20 hrs/week, plus about 10 hrs/week giving tours) to full time (40 hrs/week). I also get a pretty hefty raise, which is *really* nice. The workload varies a lot week-to-week, though.
Some days are easy. I have the schedule done, no conferences are coming or going, and all of my staff does their jobs and everything hums along perfectly.
Other days I'm running around the building trying to find somebody with the training or clearance to fix something I can't, or find something I wasn't quite told where to find, or something like that. So there's quite a lot of on-the job training.
But it's not like I'm completely helpless. The other SA on staff helps out a lot, the hall GM is around most of the time to help, and I've been an OA for several summers before. I'm pretty well versed in customer service, having worked the main desk at Hillenbrand Hall for a few years, and before that I worked in a kitchen at a nursing home. Plus I've been at school for a while, so I know the answers to most Purdue questions like the back of my hand.
It's the first time I've really moved beyond the entry level at a job before, and I feel very proud. This isn't what I have in mind for a lifelong career, but it still feels good. My boss(es) seemed very pleased I was able to step up and have a lot of faith and trust in my abilities and reliability.
I had actually missed the application process to do this job from the start of the summer, so in some way this feels like a second chance. Hopefully this promotion will be a stepping stone to do it again next year.
I remember when I was a little kid, when my dad would sit at the kitchen table with a ruler and a yellow legal pad, crankin' some tunes, working on his schedule. We (siblings) always joked about how dad would completely tune everything else out while he was working on the schedule - we would have to climb up into his lap just to talk to him. Both my parents have been and currently are managers in very stressful, customer-service oriented fields, and I feel like I have a tiny bit more understanding of what that takes.
I hope I can make them proud.
2.26.2009
heart of rock and roll
Current Mood: restless
When I was a kid, my dad played music all the time. Some of my favorite memories spending time with him are just crusin' down the road rockin' out, or jammin' to some tunes making breakfast.
Still, I never really considered myself a big music fan with my own tastes, or even my own collection. I went through a time (mostly middle school) that I really preferred to spend my free time with things completely quiet. I didn't have a CD player until my junior year of high school, and before that all I had was a handful of cassette tapes of mostly soundtracks and such. Completely missed 8 tracks and records (although there are few things cooler in this world than vintage records).
All of that changed in late high school when I switched schools, got a car, and started working. My new school was about 20 minutes away, and I spent a lot of time washing dishes at work - so I really started listening to music a lot more, borrowing music, and finding my own tastes.
And I started singing.
Then came college, my computer, CDs (I remember spending a TON of money buying Greatest Hits and other collections at Best Buy, or hoping they'd have another Queen album I didn't). Also I spent a lot of money on the now-defunct allofmp3.com, building up my collection. My brother and sister got me to join Last.fm.
So as my charts will indicate, I spend a lot of time listening to glam rock, hair metal, and other high pitched vocalists, and it's always been a real love/hate relationship. I love to sing along, and I do spend a lot of time practicing and trying to emulate them. It's always come pretty easily to me. But I am also still fighting a very didn't-join-choir-in-middle-school attitude, where I am somewhat ashamed to have such a falsetto range. *shrug* I guess I've always been a little unconfident performing, especially when it comes to music, and the sometimes less-than-macho connotations of spandex and mascara music.
BUT
I don't get embarassed enough to stop. Lately I've been listening to a few artists that - wow, this is weird for me to say - I can't match! And it's not just a question of pure pitch - if that was the case, I'd go for Minnie Riperton or something.
I guess what I'm trying to say is - here are some guys who I really am blown away by their range:
Steve Perry - Journey
Brad Delp - Boston
motherfuckin' Rob Halford - Judas Priest
of course, Freddie Mercury - Queen
Cam Pipes - 3 Inches of Blood
Michael Matijevic - Steelheart, Steel Dragon
David Coverdale - Deep Purple, Whitesnake
When I was a kid, my dad played music all the time. Some of my favorite memories spending time with him are just crusin' down the road rockin' out, or jammin' to some tunes making breakfast.
Still, I never really considered myself a big music fan with my own tastes, or even my own collection. I went through a time (mostly middle school) that I really preferred to spend my free time with things completely quiet. I didn't have a CD player until my junior year of high school, and before that all I had was a handful of cassette tapes of mostly soundtracks and such. Completely missed 8 tracks and records (although there are few things cooler in this world than vintage records).
All of that changed in late high school when I switched schools, got a car, and started working. My new school was about 20 minutes away, and I spent a lot of time washing dishes at work - so I really started listening to music a lot more, borrowing music, and finding my own tastes.
And I started singing.
Then came college, my computer, CDs (I remember spending a TON of money buying Greatest Hits and other collections at Best Buy, or hoping they'd have another Queen album I didn't). Also I spent a lot of money on the now-defunct allofmp3.com, building up my collection. My brother and sister got me to join Last.fm.
So as my charts will indicate, I spend a lot of time listening to glam rock, hair metal, and other high pitched vocalists, and it's always been a real love/hate relationship. I love to sing along, and I do spend a lot of time practicing and trying to emulate them. It's always come pretty easily to me. But I am also still fighting a very didn't-join-choir-in-middle-school attitude, where I am somewhat ashamed to have such a falsetto range. *shrug* I guess I've always been a little unconfident performing, especially when it comes to music, and the sometimes less-than-macho connotations of spandex and mascara music.
BUT
I don't get embarassed enough to stop. Lately I've been listening to a few artists that - wow, this is weird for me to say - I can't match! And it's not just a question of pure pitch - if that was the case, I'd go for Minnie Riperton or something.
I guess what I'm trying to say is - here are some guys who I really am blown away by their range:
Steve Perry - Journey
Brad Delp - Boston
motherfuckin' Rob Halford - Judas Priest
of course, Freddie Mercury - Queen
Cam Pipes - 3 Inches of Blood
Michael Matijevic - Steelheart, Steel Dragon
David Coverdale - Deep Purple, Whitesnake
8.18.2008
stalling
Current Mood: oh noes!
One week until school starts. Boo. (I shouldn't complain...school normally starts earlier than the 25th at Purdue!)
Drafted my Fantasy Football team - what a blast. Take a look here. Eric is my loudest competitor so far. Lemme put it this way:
"Week Three. You're mine, steel spine. Flex."
Also, wishing Bradley a speedy recovery getting his wisdom teeth out. Last dentist visit I had I was told to wait another year or two.
One week until school starts. Boo. (I shouldn't complain...school normally starts earlier than the 25th at Purdue!)
Drafted my Fantasy Football team - what a blast. Take a look here. Eric is my loudest competitor so far. Lemme put it this way:
"Week Three. You're mine, steel spine. Flex."
Also, wishing Bradley a speedy recovery getting his wisdom teeth out. Last dentist visit I had I was told to wait another year or two.
8.16.2008
arguably the best summary ever
Current Mood: summer is slipping away...
I've been slackin' on my goal to post once a week here.
Part of that was the early part of the month - I helped Jenny move from Hillenbrand to her new place, and then I moved out of both my old apt. and Earhart into my new place. Many thanks to everybody that helped.
I'm glad that's over, because it felt like a solid week of moving, and the furniture especially sucked to move. I guess I'd underestimated how much stuff I really left back at the old place. That's even with a concerted effort not to keep a lot of things, and even still it was a lot!
I'm more or less all settled in my new place, and it's really nice - a lot of that is just more space, but also the pool, laundry room, more a/c. Greg and I are hangin' all the time (I even have gotten him hooked on RE4) and it looks like it will be a blast living together. I have a slight suspicion that there's a bug infestation in a nearby apartment, but hopefully that's just me being paranoid.
Still need to get my registration and loans goin'...
The other big part of August so far has been Jenny and I's trip to Green Bay. Jenny posted pictures and kinda chronicled everything here: 1 2 3
We left Sunday morning and forgot about the time change driving through Chicago. I'm technically from Cincy, but I really am not a downtown driver. So of course I was terrified to navigate my way to my friend [from improv long ago] Scott's house in the heart of the city. Still, it was a Sunday afternoon and despite a few slow moments and a few tolls, we made it okay. I'll go ahead and mention here the weather was gorgeous the entire time.
Side note: later I want to take a trip to Chicago and get a CityPass because pretty much all of the stuff I want to do and see there is a nerdy museum of some kind. Also, the pass is good for 9 days, so it'll be a big expensive trip.
Had a great time with Scott and his girlfriend Allison. We walked like, 2 miles, trying to find Giordano's Pizza - in part because it's Stu's favorite chain, in part because I'd never had authentic deep dish. This was also my first time to Chicago, despite living 2 hours away for 4 years. After stuffing myself, we rode the 'L' into downtown Chicago (the whole time I kept fantasizing about skipping a day of school to see the sights, making dozens of police cars chase me all over town, and then hunting down the one armed man - and if I was very lucky, seeing Janitor [bonus points to anybody who got that one]).
An eerily quiet Chicago downtown awaited us. We saw the Magnificent Mile (why is it magnificent? because of shopping, apparently, not because of grisly murders), Sears Tower (from the ground), and the street they filmed some of The Dark Knight on. Took pictures at the Bean (sigh). Later that night Scott made us pot roast and we watched a bit of vintage Ah-nold.
The next day we drove to Green Bay. The drive up was pretty uneventful, even if Milwaukee was 50x bigger than I thought it would be (I guess when the only idea of Wisconsin I have is from That 70's Show, I kinda imagined the whole state looked like Eric Forman's house).
Green Bay The City is awesome. The whole town is just like you think - everybody there has a cute almost Canadian accent (mostly it's the drawn out "o"s) and a Favre jersey, even with all the crazy shit that's been going on with him being traded to the Jets. I watched Jenny buy a ton of Packers stuff she's been wanting for a long time, 'cuz it's cheaper/only found there.
Every fan we met there was super nice. Granted, it's not like the Bengals and Packers are hard-core division rivals, but basically it was nothing but smiles and waves. I got to try more local food: butter burgers, cheese curds, and a real bratwurst. Fantastic. My first NFL game was at historic Lambeau, and it was really pretty amazing, like any old stadium should be.
Our sign ("We drove 8 hours to get here, and the loser pays gas!") made some people laugh, but it didn't get us on TV. Oh well. Turns out the family behind us drove 18 hours from Montana, anyway, so it didn't seem so impressive. Plus it was a lie...beforehand we decided that I'd buy tickets, Jenny would buy gas. Yes, that's right, I lied to try to get on the Jumbotron.
Speaking of tickets, our seats were on the 20 yard line-ish, and the view was about the same as Ross-Ade watching the Boilermakers, that is to say pretty decent. The preseason game doesn't count for anything, but it was awesome to see our teams actually playing, tackling, passing, and kicking against each other. Bengals won 20-17, and I was happy to see Aaron Rodgers take over the Packers offense without Favre and do a good job. The drunkest fans we saw were middle aged schoolteachers sitting in the row in front of us. Odd.
The next part of the trip started right after the game. We drove about an hour and a half West of GB to a little town called Waupaca to stay with Jenny's aunt and uncle. They were really nice and drove us around the area to show us some parks and lakes and take us out to eat. Uncle Dennis had an amazing vinyl collection that I went really crazy for. Like for all of Jenny's family, I turned up the charm hoping they would like me. Like all of Jenny's family, I think it worked :D
Unlike the 2-day trip up, we drove back all in one day on Wednesday. We covered close to 400 miles. The rest stop was in Pleasant Prairie (right near the southern WI border) to take a tour of the Jelly Belly factory. Seriously, we only stopped here to stretch our legs, but it was a fun stop. Bought some JB irregulars ("Belly Flops") and some caffeinated "sport beans". The next "stop" was rush-hour Chicago. Seriously...close to 3 hours to go like, 60 miles, and I think we spent 20 dollars in tolls. In retrospect, FUCK toll roads. We drove s'more and had a nice dinner with Benji and Corrie in Valpo (and found a sweet water park for next year).
Whew. Next up: Judas Priest concert on Tuesday.
I've been slackin' on my goal to post once a week here.
Part of that was the early part of the month - I helped Jenny move from Hillenbrand to her new place, and then I moved out of both my old apt. and Earhart into my new place. Many thanks to everybody that helped.
I'm glad that's over, because it felt like a solid week of moving, and the furniture especially sucked to move. I guess I'd underestimated how much stuff I really left back at the old place. That's even with a concerted effort not to keep a lot of things, and even still it was a lot!
I'm more or less all settled in my new place, and it's really nice - a lot of that is just more space, but also the pool, laundry room, more a/c. Greg and I are hangin' all the time (I even have gotten him hooked on RE4) and it looks like it will be a blast living together. I have a slight suspicion that there's a bug infestation in a nearby apartment, but hopefully that's just me being paranoid.
Still need to get my registration and loans goin'...
The other big part of August so far has been Jenny and I's trip to Green Bay. Jenny posted pictures and kinda chronicled everything here: 1 2 3
We left Sunday morning and forgot about the time change driving through Chicago. I'm technically from Cincy, but I really am not a downtown driver. So of course I was terrified to navigate my way to my friend [from improv long ago] Scott's house in the heart of the city. Still, it was a Sunday afternoon and despite a few slow moments and a few tolls, we made it okay. I'll go ahead and mention here the weather was gorgeous the entire time.
Side note: later I want to take a trip to Chicago and get a CityPass because pretty much all of the stuff I want to do and see there is a nerdy museum of some kind. Also, the pass is good for 9 days, so it'll be a big expensive trip.
Had a great time with Scott and his girlfriend Allison. We walked like, 2 miles, trying to find Giordano's Pizza - in part because it's Stu's favorite chain, in part because I'd never had authentic deep dish. This was also my first time to Chicago, despite living 2 hours away for 4 years. After stuffing myself, we rode the 'L' into downtown Chicago (the whole time I kept fantasizing about skipping a day of school to see the sights, making dozens of police cars chase me all over town, and then hunting down the one armed man - and if I was very lucky, seeing Janitor [bonus points to anybody who got that one]).
An eerily quiet Chicago downtown awaited us. We saw the Magnificent Mile (why is it magnificent? because of shopping, apparently, not because of grisly murders), Sears Tower (from the ground), and the street they filmed some of The Dark Knight on. Took pictures at the Bean (sigh). Later that night Scott made us pot roast and we watched a bit of vintage Ah-nold.
The next day we drove to Green Bay. The drive up was pretty uneventful, even if Milwaukee was 50x bigger than I thought it would be (I guess when the only idea of Wisconsin I have is from That 70's Show, I kinda imagined the whole state looked like Eric Forman's house).
Green Bay The City is awesome. The whole town is just like you think - everybody there has a cute almost Canadian accent (mostly it's the drawn out "o"s) and a Favre jersey, even with all the crazy shit that's been going on with him being traded to the Jets. I watched Jenny buy a ton of Packers stuff she's been wanting for a long time, 'cuz it's cheaper/only found there.
Every fan we met there was super nice. Granted, it's not like the Bengals and Packers are hard-core division rivals, but basically it was nothing but smiles and waves. I got to try more local food: butter burgers, cheese curds, and a real bratwurst. Fantastic. My first NFL game was at historic Lambeau, and it was really pretty amazing, like any old stadium should be.
Our sign ("We drove 8 hours to get here, and the loser pays gas!") made some people laugh, but it didn't get us on TV. Oh well. Turns out the family behind us drove 18 hours from Montana, anyway, so it didn't seem so impressive. Plus it was a lie...beforehand we decided that I'd buy tickets, Jenny would buy gas. Yes, that's right, I lied to try to get on the Jumbotron.
Speaking of tickets, our seats were on the 20 yard line-ish, and the view was about the same as Ross-Ade watching the Boilermakers, that is to say pretty decent. The preseason game doesn't count for anything, but it was awesome to see our teams actually playing, tackling, passing, and kicking against each other. Bengals won 20-17, and I was happy to see Aaron Rodgers take over the Packers offense without Favre and do a good job. The drunkest fans we saw were middle aged schoolteachers sitting in the row in front of us. Odd.
The next part of the trip started right after the game. We drove about an hour and a half West of GB to a little town called Waupaca to stay with Jenny's aunt and uncle. They were really nice and drove us around the area to show us some parks and lakes and take us out to eat. Uncle Dennis had an amazing vinyl collection that I went really crazy for. Like for all of Jenny's family, I turned up the charm hoping they would like me. Like all of Jenny's family, I think it worked :D
Unlike the 2-day trip up, we drove back all in one day on Wednesday. We covered close to 400 miles. The rest stop was in Pleasant Prairie (right near the southern WI border) to take a tour of the Jelly Belly factory. Seriously, we only stopped here to stretch our legs, but it was a fun stop. Bought some JB irregulars ("Belly Flops") and some caffeinated "sport beans". The next "stop" was rush-hour Chicago. Seriously...close to 3 hours to go like, 60 miles, and I think we spent 20 dollars in tolls. In retrospect, FUCK toll roads. We drove s'more and had a nice dinner with Benji and Corrie in Valpo (and found a sweet water park for next year).
Whew. Next up: Judas Priest concert on Tuesday.
7.19.2008
on the verge
Current Mood: pensive
Somehow this wacky work schedule that I have opened up for a bit this month, and I just got back a few days ago from a whole week home, and I have to say it was one of the best visits home I can remember. Some highlights:
Got to hang out with Jared (one of Sis's college friends). Went swimming a lot. Burned myself lighting some rockass fireworks that we bought from a shady guy. Ate me some Gold Star chili. Visited Sis and Bradley's church and got to see what that was like - and hear Sis read one of her poems. Ate some of Dad's grill cookin'. Heard from an old friend that I kinda had fallen out of contact with. Gave some presents, got some presents like Bradley's old TV tuner card and a Carson Palmer jersey for my upcoming trip to Green Bay. Saw my Grandma's new apartment and learned some stuff about my grandparents. Rode a bike into a pool. Watched some great new movies. Went to a waterpark with some of my family courtesy of a family friend- and got my first sunburn. I ate downtown and tried sushi for the first time.
It was kinda like a whole summer break of fun compressed into a whole week. Awesome.
One other thing I got to do, which I'm setting aside as a special mention, was go target shooting with Mom and her fiancee Scott.
I've got "learn basic marksmanship" on my LoTtDBID. Previously, I've gone to the callout of the Purdue Rifle and Pistol Club and fired some handguns, I'd taken potshots at turtles with some small .22 rifles at Ronnie's house (waaaay back in the day), and fired some rifles and pistols with Kamikaze last summer. Still, I've never considered any of those any formal test of my ability, which is why I was excited to get to go target shooting. Up until that day the best I would say was that I'd messed around with some weapons but nothing more.
We went to the Elk Creek Hunt Club, a national target shooting circuit stop in Kentucky. I shot 12 and 20 gauge shotguns at small clay targets that were launched into the air by a mechanical thrower. I've never fired a shotgun before, never at a moving target, never at clay targets, and was using unfamiliar guns at a strange course - and I think I did pretty well.
Scott gave me a quick tutorial, and from there I shot four times at each of the 14 stations (for a total of 56 rounds, instead of the standard 100, to save money). The target shooting reminded me very much of Duck Hunt or similar games (which I suppose is the point) - except that it was much harder, and the targets moved with much more variety. For example, some arced down from over my right shoulder, some pairs criss-crossed, others rolled across the ground (called "rabbits"). I would guess that being good at shooting video games is a crossover skill to target shooting? I also learned the scoring system, the etiquette for being the thrower, and s'more gun safety. I ended up with a 54% accuracy over the entire course, with my best station being 4 of 4, and my worst 1 for 4.
I'm now a bit more confident that I can handle a gun, should the unthinkable happen.
And while I was home I really missed doing improv. It's been a long while since I've felt that...
Somehow this wacky work schedule that I have opened up for a bit this month, and I just got back a few days ago from a whole week home, and I have to say it was one of the best visits home I can remember. Some highlights:
Got to hang out with Jared (one of Sis's college friends). Went swimming a lot. Burned myself lighting some rockass fireworks that we bought from a shady guy. Ate me some Gold Star chili. Visited Sis and Bradley's church and got to see what that was like - and hear Sis read one of her poems. Ate some of Dad's grill cookin'. Heard from an old friend that I kinda had fallen out of contact with. Gave some presents, got some presents like Bradley's old TV tuner card and a Carson Palmer jersey for my upcoming trip to Green Bay. Saw my Grandma's new apartment and learned some stuff about my grandparents. Rode a bike into a pool. Watched some great new movies. Went to a waterpark with some of my family courtesy of a family friend- and got my first sunburn. I ate downtown and tried sushi for the first time.
It was kinda like a whole summer break of fun compressed into a whole week. Awesome.
One other thing I got to do, which I'm setting aside as a special mention, was go target shooting with Mom and her fiancee Scott.
I've got "learn basic marksmanship" on my LoTtDBID. Previously, I've gone to the callout of the Purdue Rifle and Pistol Club and fired some handguns, I'd taken potshots at turtles with some small .22 rifles at Ronnie's house (waaaay back in the day), and fired some rifles and pistols with Kamikaze last summer. Still, I've never considered any of those any formal test of my ability, which is why I was excited to get to go target shooting. Up until that day the best I would say was that I'd messed around with some weapons but nothing more.
We went to the Elk Creek Hunt Club, a national target shooting circuit stop in Kentucky. I shot 12 and 20 gauge shotguns at small clay targets that were launched into the air by a mechanical thrower. I've never fired a shotgun before, never at a moving target, never at clay targets, and was using unfamiliar guns at a strange course - and I think I did pretty well.
Scott gave me a quick tutorial, and from there I shot four times at each of the 14 stations (for a total of 56 rounds, instead of the standard 100, to save money). The target shooting reminded me very much of Duck Hunt or similar games (which I suppose is the point) - except that it was much harder, and the targets moved with much more variety. For example, some arced down from over my right shoulder, some pairs criss-crossed, others rolled across the ground (called "rabbits"). I would guess that being good at shooting video games is a crossover skill to target shooting? I also learned the scoring system, the etiquette for being the thrower, and s'more gun safety. I ended up with a 54% accuracy over the entire course, with my best station being 4 of 4, and my worst 1 for 4.
I'm now a bit more confident that I can handle a gun, should the unthinkable happen.
And while I was home I really missed doing improv. It's been a long while since I've felt that...
1.14.2008
face the music
Current Mood: limbo
Soooo...life. Stuff. Things. As thrilled as I am to be back in school with a schedule and a purpose and such, I can't say it's gone too smoothly. Here are some thoughts.
I'm on track 2844 of 6599 of the Great Alpha Scrobble, in the middle of the "If" songs. That's about 43% complete. The halfway track is "L.A. Woman" by The Doors, one letter short of the middle of the alphabet. Technically it's between song 3299 and 3300, but oddly they're both the same song - one is a live version. It's been a test of willpower at times to resist switching tracks to listen to what I want at the time, and to get used to Led Zeppelin to Freezepop transitions. While this is a great look at some of my rarely-played tracks, I also am getting a better idea of what music of mine I can safely get rid of.
I've got a more healthy outlook recently. I've tried to get some better foods like yogurt and such in my life, for example. I'm brushing my teeth much more, but that may be because I think I need to have my wisdom teeth taken out soon. :(
Purdue won their bowl game - barely (against a team we steamrolled earlier in the season). The Bengals had a losing season (again) and I hope they get some sweet draft picks. I won my fantasy football championship...it was much less exciting than I imagined. I was pretty good at picking playoff teams. Cowboys lost to the Giants and are out of the playoffs, which was shocking and quite frankly, disappointing. Looks like the Patriots are gonna win everything, which is also disappointing. I am rooting for the Packers all the way.
I still need to register to vote and get my absentee ballot. More thoughts on politics forthcoming.
It was nice to get home for Christmas and spend time with my family. I wasn't really comfortable at all with the two Christmas setup, but we had a plan and stuck to it. I got a tonnnn of DVDs, yay (I have restored my list of DVDs and added it to my links list).
I'm trying to avoid TV (American Gladiators, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and video games (Smash Brothers, Metroid) in lieu of focusing on academics this semester. My schedule is okay but MWF are pretty long. It is super important I do well this semester. That said, my current financial aid situation is FUBAR and it's maddening to try and straighten it out.
Improv is back for this year and we've got our work cut out for us. We've got about half a month to prepare for our callout and a trip to Chicago, plus the return of the AOO and other shows booked for this spring.
Soooo...life. Stuff. Things. As thrilled as I am to be back in school with a schedule and a purpose and such, I can't say it's gone too smoothly. Here are some thoughts.
I'm on track 2844 of 6599 of the Great Alpha Scrobble, in the middle of the "If" songs. That's about 43% complete. The halfway track is "L.A. Woman" by The Doors, one letter short of the middle of the alphabet. Technically it's between song 3299 and 3300, but oddly they're both the same song - one is a live version. It's been a test of willpower at times to resist switching tracks to listen to what I want at the time, and to get used to Led Zeppelin to Freezepop transitions. While this is a great look at some of my rarely-played tracks, I also am getting a better idea of what music of mine I can safely get rid of.
I've got a more healthy outlook recently. I've tried to get some better foods like yogurt and such in my life, for example. I'm brushing my teeth much more, but that may be because I think I need to have my wisdom teeth taken out soon. :(
Purdue won their bowl game - barely (against a team we steamrolled earlier in the season). The Bengals had a losing season (again) and I hope they get some sweet draft picks. I won my fantasy football championship...it was much less exciting than I imagined. I was pretty good at picking playoff teams. Cowboys lost to the Giants and are out of the playoffs, which was shocking and quite frankly, disappointing. Looks like the Patriots are gonna win everything, which is also disappointing. I am rooting for the Packers all the way.
I still need to register to vote and get my absentee ballot. More thoughts on politics forthcoming.
It was nice to get home for Christmas and spend time with my family. I wasn't really comfortable at all with the two Christmas setup, but we had a plan and stuck to it. I got a tonnnn of DVDs, yay (I have restored my list of DVDs and added it to my links list).
I'm trying to avoid TV (American Gladiators, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and video games (Smash Brothers, Metroid) in lieu of focusing on academics this semester. My schedule is okay but MWF are pretty long. It is super important I do well this semester. That said, my current financial aid situation is FUBAR and it's maddening to try and straighten it out.
Improv is back for this year and we've got our work cut out for us. We've got about half a month to prepare for our callout and a trip to Chicago, plus the return of the AOO and other shows booked for this spring.
12.20.2007
crazy sevens
Current Mood: funky
I think NaNoWriMo completely burned me out on writing, seriously. I haven't updated my NNWM story since a few days before the end of November (and I feel kinda bad, because quite a few people bothered to read it, and I'm guessing they're sick of checking for non-existent updates).
Worse, things on my writing front aren't going to improve anytime soon. About the only thing I write about in *this* blog with any regularity is football, and fantasy football ends this week, college bowls by the first week of January, and this is the penultimate week of regular season football. I am sad for that.
I'm leaving to go home in a few hours, and I'll be back to Purdue probably around the end of the year. I'm not addicted to the internet like Current Roommates Alex and John, so I won't take my computer home (that's a pain in the ass anyway, though I really do need to break down the 'ol compy and dust 'er off). Basically, I won't be updating much for a while at home.
On top of all that, this upcoming semester (starting January 7th) is probably one of the most important of my collegiate career. I need to seriously buckle down and overcome some academic roadblocks I've been struggling with for quite some time.
My rough attempt at a plan involves not working (already quit my job), scaling back my role at the improv club (read: less worrying over details/let new guys step up), and take out more student loans to worry less about money. The last one is almost paradoxical, but from last semester I think it is worth a try. There are some other things, but I don't want to list them here.
Also, on the proactive side of life, I need to start finding something to do this summer. I can easily go back to my old job as a summer conference assistant, but that's a step backwards and I'm getting sick of it. I want to do something engineering, something I am proud to put on my resume...but that's easier said than done with my gpa.
I tell myself to cut some slack because I'm stretching myself academically like whoa, but still...nobody to blame but yours truly. Get it together, Ryan.
Space is limited
In a haiku, so it's hard
To finish what you
-T.M
I think NaNoWriMo completely burned me out on writing, seriously. I haven't updated my NNWM story since a few days before the end of November (and I feel kinda bad, because quite a few people bothered to read it, and I'm guessing they're sick of checking for non-existent updates).
Worse, things on my writing front aren't going to improve anytime soon. About the only thing I write about in *this* blog with any regularity is football, and fantasy football ends this week, college bowls by the first week of January, and this is the penultimate week of regular season football. I am sad for that.
I'm leaving to go home in a few hours, and I'll be back to Purdue probably around the end of the year. I'm not addicted to the internet like Current Roommates Alex and John, so I won't take my computer home (that's a pain in the ass anyway, though I really do need to break down the 'ol compy and dust 'er off). Basically, I won't be updating much for a while at home.
On top of all that, this upcoming semester (starting January 7th) is probably one of the most important of my collegiate career. I need to seriously buckle down and overcome some academic roadblocks I've been struggling with for quite some time.
My rough attempt at a plan involves not working (already quit my job), scaling back my role at the improv club (read: less worrying over details/let new guys step up), and take out more student loans to worry less about money. The last one is almost paradoxical, but from last semester I think it is worth a try. There are some other things, but I don't want to list them here.
Also, on the proactive side of life, I need to start finding something to do this summer. I can easily go back to my old job as a summer conference assistant, but that's a step backwards and I'm getting sick of it. I want to do something engineering, something I am proud to put on my resume...but that's easier said than done with my gpa.
I tell myself to cut some slack because I'm stretching myself academically like whoa, but still...nobody to blame but yours truly. Get it together, Ryan.
Space is limited
In a haiku, so it's hard
To finish what you
-T.M
12.06.2007
"BLT"
Current Mood: you are just in time for Christmastime
1. What's your favorite ornament hanging on your tree?
One of my favorites is this ugly-ass ornament I made back in middle school (I think), made of clay. It's supposed to be a dude, but his ears are small satellite dishes, it looks like it was painted by a blind man, and his nose is so large it looks like a penis. It's so heavy it can only be hung on the bottom branches.
2. What's better: Sledding or Snow Angels?
Sledding, because of Calvin and Hobbes if nothing else.
3. Do you put marshmallows in your hot chocolate?
When I can! Only the tiny little chalky ones, though.
4. Do you still get pictures with Santa?
I..I don't know that I ever have, and have no plans to.
5. What's your favorite holiday food?
Christmas tree cakes! The spongy sugary Little Debbie ones!
6. What do you want for Christmas this year?
The thing I wanted most I already received. That's not me being sappy - I didn't think I'd hear back about it until Christmas break.
7. Did you go shopping on Black Friday?
No, and I avoid it whenever I can. In fact, I get a little extra pleasure out of sitting on my butt in my comfy house thinking of all the crazies duking it out at 5am over "doorbusters".
8. Are you on the naughty or nice list?
Nice.
9. Give one reason why you think you're on the list you chose.
The other day I took care of one of my friends who had had a bit too much to drink.
10. Do you have fake trees or real trees?
Oh man. Right now in my apartment we have our tiny Charlie-Brown tree, the cheapest fake tree Wal-Mart had to offer, and we call him Douglas. Douglas Fir. That said, I die a little on the inside knowing we don't have a real tree. Growing up it went unspoken that we got a live tree, and I think twice we even got trees with bulbs that we later replanted. All the mess and maintenance are nothing compared to the smell, the life, the comfort of having a real tree. Right now I'm willing to accept the fake tree because I'm a poor student, but that's the only reason.
11. Do you know what you're getting your parents for Christmas this year?
Nope! Haha.
12. Are you good at guessing what's inside the presents?
Kinda, yeah. Not nearly as good as my father, but I do okay.
13. How early do you get up on Christmas morning?
We usually open gifts Christmas Eve, so there's really no rush. I used to set my alarm to get to my new toys faster, but now I sleep in and just sorta ease into it.
14. Do you have a system for opening presents at your house?
Yes. We all sit around the living room and designate a present-fetcher, and then take turns opening gifts. We try and space it out so everybody has about equal turns and we all show our gifts before moving on.
15. How many days before Christmas do presents start appearing under your tree?
Usually the night we get it. Pretty much anything in December is fair game.
16. What's your favorite Christmas decoration?
Christmas lights!
17. Do you like icicle lights?
Not really. LED ones, however, are pretty rad.
18. Are you good at making Gingerbread houses?
I don't think I ever have tried, come to think of it.
19. Does it snow where you live?
Yes! Thank god. It just snowed for the first time here a few days ago and it ruled.
20. Do you use advent calendars to count down the days til Christmas?
Just once, when I got a one-time LEGO advent calendar. It also ruled.
21. What event lets you know that Christmas is coming up?
I have a lot of Jewish friends, so Hanukkah is a pretty big clue. Also, back September when the stores start putting out Christmas stuff...
22. What's your favorite holiday drink from Starbucks?
...
I hate Starbucks.
23. Do you like red or green better?
Green, I think.
24. Do you eat candy canes?
Yeah! My favorites are the Starburst ones.
25. Have you ever made it on the news because your house is so decorated?
No, but it will...
26. How many Christmas songs do you know by heart?
Several, for various definitions of "song". Most are comedy routines or jingles, rather than hymns or overtly religious ones.
27. How good are you at wrapping presents?
Bad enough that I usually beg mom to wrap all my stuff. I usually sneak hers into an unmarked package and grin stupidly when I tell her she's just wrapped her own gift.
28. What type of wrapping paper is your favorite?
I like shiny paper, or classic designs like bold stripes or snowflakes. Also paper with, like, cartoons or something I like.
29. Do you post bulletins on MySpace wishing people a Merry Christmas?
No. In fact, recently I deleted my MySpace page.
30. Do you have Christmas layouts and songs for your Myspace profile?
MySpace no more!
31. Does your school/work do a food drive?
We had a food drive for Thanksgiving, and a gift drive for Christmas.
32. Have you ever been to Rockefeller Center to see the tree?
Nope.
33. What about Disney World?
Nope.
34. Any cool family traditions?
Several. Off the top of my head is the Christmas Cruise, where we go lookin' for the best decorated houses.
35. How many people do you buy presents for?
Generally immediate family and significant other, and a few close friends.
36. Have you ever told a little kid Santa isn't real?
Not to my knowledge.
37. Do you have any cute holiday outfits?
Actually, I recently purchased some boxers with candy canes on them. I can't wait to wear them in the summer.
38. Does your family get a picture taken and send it out in Christmas cards?
Ugh. No.
39. What type of tree topper do you have?
This ancient star that is slowly disintegrating.
40. On a scale of 1-10, how decorated is your house?
My apartment? Probably about a 4.
41. Would anyone ever call you a grinch?
It's possible.
42. Do you and your friends do "Secret Santas?"
I usually have a gift exchange with the improv group, and I've had several work-related ones in the past.
43. Do you think Snowflake-Shaped Ritz Crackers taste better than regular ones?
Never had 'em, but I'm assuming they're about the same.
44. Do you go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve?
I can see how this would apply to the general Christmas-celebrating crowd, but I do not.
45. What Christmas movie do you watch EVERY YEAR at Christmas Time?
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the animated version. Does everybody have a movie they ALWAYS watch?
46. Would you rather get one big gift or a lot of little gifts?
Lately, one big gift. That's probably because I'm becoming a lot more focused on cutting down on owning *stuff*.
47. Whats the first thing you do after all your presents are opened?
I was the kind of kid that couldn't play with anything before carefully opening the box and confirming the contents matched the packing list, then dutifully removing the parts from their wrapping, cutting away the excess plastic flanges from each piece, placing each sticker centered in the appropriate spot...
48. Whats more fun: the days leading up to Christmas, or Christmas itself?
Days leading up to (again, we opened on Christmas Eve).
49. Do you do any community service stuff around Christmas time?
A little bit. This year our improv group has done a lot more, and I'm very proud.
50. Are you excited for Christmas this year?
Yes.
One of my favorites is this ugly-ass ornament I made back in middle school (I think), made of clay. It's supposed to be a dude, but his ears are small satellite dishes, it looks like it was painted by a blind man, and his nose is so large it looks like a penis. It's so heavy it can only be hung on the bottom branches.
2. What's better: Sledding or Snow Angels?
Sledding, because of Calvin and Hobbes if nothing else.
3. Do you put marshmallows in your hot chocolate?
When I can! Only the tiny little chalky ones, though.
4. Do you still get pictures with Santa?
I..I don't know that I ever have, and have no plans to.
5. What's your favorite holiday food?
Christmas tree cakes! The spongy sugary Little Debbie ones!
6. What do you want for Christmas this year?
The thing I wanted most I already received. That's not me being sappy - I didn't think I'd hear back about it until Christmas break.
7. Did you go shopping on Black Friday?
No, and I avoid it whenever I can. In fact, I get a little extra pleasure out of sitting on my butt in my comfy house thinking of all the crazies duking it out at 5am over "doorbusters".
8. Are you on the naughty or nice list?
Nice.
9. Give one reason why you think you're on the list you chose.
The other day I took care of one of my friends who had had a bit too much to drink.
10. Do you have fake trees or real trees?
Oh man. Right now in my apartment we have our tiny Charlie-Brown tree, the cheapest fake tree Wal-Mart had to offer, and we call him Douglas. Douglas Fir. That said, I die a little on the inside knowing we don't have a real tree. Growing up it went unspoken that we got a live tree, and I think twice we even got trees with bulbs that we later replanted. All the mess and maintenance are nothing compared to the smell, the life, the comfort of having a real tree. Right now I'm willing to accept the fake tree because I'm a poor student, but that's the only reason.
11. Do you know what you're getting your parents for Christmas this year?
Nope! Haha.
12. Are you good at guessing what's inside the presents?
Kinda, yeah. Not nearly as good as my father, but I do okay.
13. How early do you get up on Christmas morning?
We usually open gifts Christmas Eve, so there's really no rush. I used to set my alarm to get to my new toys faster, but now I sleep in and just sorta ease into it.
14. Do you have a system for opening presents at your house?
Yes. We all sit around the living room and designate a present-fetcher, and then take turns opening gifts. We try and space it out so everybody has about equal turns and we all show our gifts before moving on.
15. How many days before Christmas do presents start appearing under your tree?
Usually the night we get it. Pretty much anything in December is fair game.
16. What's your favorite Christmas decoration?
Christmas lights!
17. Do you like icicle lights?
Not really. LED ones, however, are pretty rad.
18. Are you good at making Gingerbread houses?
I don't think I ever have tried, come to think of it.
19. Does it snow where you live?
Yes! Thank god. It just snowed for the first time here a few days ago and it ruled.
20. Do you use advent calendars to count down the days til Christmas?
Just once, when I got a one-time LEGO advent calendar. It also ruled.
21. What event lets you know that Christmas is coming up?
I have a lot of Jewish friends, so Hanukkah is a pretty big clue. Also, back September when the stores start putting out Christmas stuff...
22. What's your favorite holiday drink from Starbucks?
...
I hate Starbucks.
23. Do you like red or green better?
Green, I think.
24. Do you eat candy canes?
Yeah! My favorites are the Starburst ones.
25. Have you ever made it on the news because your house is so decorated?
No, but it will...
26. How many Christmas songs do you know by heart?
Several, for various definitions of "song". Most are comedy routines or jingles, rather than hymns or overtly religious ones.
27. How good are you at wrapping presents?
Bad enough that I usually beg mom to wrap all my stuff. I usually sneak hers into an unmarked package and grin stupidly when I tell her she's just wrapped her own gift.
28. What type of wrapping paper is your favorite?
I like shiny paper, or classic designs like bold stripes or snowflakes. Also paper with, like, cartoons or something I like.
29. Do you post bulletins on MySpace wishing people a Merry Christmas?
No. In fact, recently I deleted my MySpace page.
30. Do you have Christmas layouts and songs for your Myspace profile?
MySpace no more!
31. Does your school/work do a food drive?
We had a food drive for Thanksgiving, and a gift drive for Christmas.
32. Have you ever been to Rockefeller Center to see the tree?
Nope.
33. What about Disney World?
Nope.
34. Any cool family traditions?
Several. Off the top of my head is the Christmas Cruise, where we go lookin' for the best decorated houses.
35. How many people do you buy presents for?
Generally immediate family and significant other, and a few close friends.
36. Have you ever told a little kid Santa isn't real?
Not to my knowledge.
37. Do you have any cute holiday outfits?
Actually, I recently purchased some boxers with candy canes on them. I can't wait to wear them in the summer.
38. Does your family get a picture taken and send it out in Christmas cards?
Ugh. No.
39. What type of tree topper do you have?
This ancient star that is slowly disintegrating.
40. On a scale of 1-10, how decorated is your house?
My apartment? Probably about a 4.
41. Would anyone ever call you a grinch?
It's possible.
42. Do you and your friends do "Secret Santas?"
I usually have a gift exchange with the improv group, and I've had several work-related ones in the past.
43. Do you think Snowflake-Shaped Ritz Crackers taste better than regular ones?
Never had 'em, but I'm assuming they're about the same.
44. Do you go to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve?
I can see how this would apply to the general Christmas-celebrating crowd, but I do not.
45. What Christmas movie do you watch EVERY YEAR at Christmas Time?
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the animated version. Does everybody have a movie they ALWAYS watch?
46. Would you rather get one big gift or a lot of little gifts?
Lately, one big gift. That's probably because I'm becoming a lot more focused on cutting down on owning *stuff*.
47. Whats the first thing you do after all your presents are opened?
I was the kind of kid that couldn't play with anything before carefully opening the box and confirming the contents matched the packing list, then dutifully removing the parts from their wrapping, cutting away the excess plastic flanges from each piece, placing each sticker centered in the appropriate spot...
48. Whats more fun: the days leading up to Christmas, or Christmas itself?
Days leading up to (again, we opened on Christmas Eve).
49. Do you do any community service stuff around Christmas time?
A little bit. This year our improv group has done a lot more, and I'm very proud.
50. Are you excited for Christmas this year?
Yes.
12.04.2007
twice on Sunday
Current Mood: smug
This is simply to clear up some confusion about Black Friday:
The news media frequently refer to Black Friday as the busiest retail shopping day of the year, but this is not always accurate. While it has been one of the busiest days in terms of customer traffic,[1][2] in terms of actual sales volume, from 1993 through 2001 Black Friday was usually the fifth to tenth busiest day.[3] In 2002 and 2004, however, Black Friday ranked second place.[4] The busiest retail shopping day of the year in the United States (in terms of both sales and customer traffic) usually has been the Saturday before Christmas.[5] In 2003 and 2005, however, Black Friday actually did reach first place.[6]
And because this is too good to keep to myself, the results of MASH with my siblings:
RYAN will live in a house. He is going to marry a pile of beans, and his Mormon second wife is Samus Aran. In a move that surprises us all, he will become a Catholic priest who moonlights as an NFL quarterback. He'll drive a skateboard tied to a milkcrate, and his hidden talent is that he has the potential to be a Skip-It
World Champion. He'll have a pet dolphin and cultivate a fear of prime numbers. He'll own a factory that produces factories, and his motto will be "One brick gayer!" Ryan will have four children, each with a defining characteristic... the first is purple, the second has no knees, the third is addicted to Robutussin, and the fourth sneezes when he sees the jack of spades.
BRADLEY, on the other hand, will live in Australia and marry Rosie McDonald (a cross between Ronald McDonald and Rosie O'Donnell). On their anniversary they are allowed to have an affair, and Bradley will choose to indulge with Danny Trejo (if "choose" is the right word with a man like Danny). To earn a living, Bradley will be a Duckmaster General, and Rosie will burp Tupperware. Bradley will drive a '69 Charger, and he will spend a stint in jail for putting popcorn in a tractor engine. Bradley will invent motel smart bombs, and he will have the hidden talent of being a cat juggler. He and Rosie will vacation at the World's Fair, own a sports team named the Cincinnati Zombies, and have a four-headed kid who happens to be the band Green Day.
ERICA will live in Alcatraz with husband Andy Ober. In a plot similar to that of Chuck and Larry, she will have to maintain a fake marriage to Michael McKean, and her vocation is a Chuck E. Cheese stand-in. She has a midlife crisis and becomes a fashion photographer, and she drives a sled pulled by alligators. Her hidden talent is knitting dreams, and when she puts out a folk album, it is titled Fryin' Up Some o' Sis' Greatest Grits (runner up: Whalin' & Winnin', Pickin' & Grinnin'). She has a precious heirloom: a Ziploc bag of Holocaust paraphernalia. She will have a pet peacock, she will discover Newton's other law, and she will have three kids: one is bald, one "can smoke," and the third is incapable of being chosen not-last.
This is simply to clear up some confusion about Black Friday:
The news media frequently refer to Black Friday as the busiest retail shopping day of the year, but this is not always accurate. While it has been one of the busiest days in terms of customer traffic,[1][2] in terms of actual sales volume, from 1993 through 2001 Black Friday was usually the fifth to tenth busiest day.[3] In 2002 and 2004, however, Black Friday ranked second place.[4] The busiest retail shopping day of the year in the United States (in terms of both sales and customer traffic) usually has been the Saturday before Christmas.[5] In 2003 and 2005, however, Black Friday actually did reach first place.[6]
And because this is too good to keep to myself, the results of MASH with my siblings:
RYAN will live in a house. He is going to marry a pile of beans, and his Mormon second wife is Samus Aran. In a move that surprises us all, he will become a Catholic priest who moonlights as an NFL quarterback. He'll drive a skateboard tied to a milkcrate, and his hidden talent is that he has the potential to be a Skip-It
World Champion. He'll have a pet dolphin and cultivate a fear of prime numbers. He'll own a factory that produces factories, and his motto will be "One brick gayer!" Ryan will have four children, each with a defining characteristic... the first is purple, the second has no knees, the third is addicted to Robutussin, and the fourth sneezes when he sees the jack of spades. BRADLEY, on the other hand, will live in Australia and marry Rosie McDonald (a cross between Ronald McDonald and Rosie O'Donnell). On their anniversary they are allowed to have an affair, and Bradley will choose to indulge with Danny Trejo
(if "choose" is the right word with a man like Danny). To earn a living, Bradley will be a Duckmaster General, and Rosie will burp Tupperware. Bradley will drive a '69 Charger, and he will spend a stint in jail for putting popcorn in a tractor engine. Bradley will invent motel smart bombs, and he will have the hidden talent of being a cat juggler. He and Rosie will vacation at the World's Fair, own a sports team named the Cincinnati Zombies, and have a four-headed kid who happens to be the band Green Day. ERICA will live in Alcatraz with husband Andy Ober. In a plot similar to that of Chuck and Larry, she will have to maintain a fake marriage to Michael McKean
, and her vocation is a Chuck E. Cheese stand-in. She has a midlife crisis and becomes a fashion photographer, and she drives a sled pulled by alligators. Her hidden talent is knitting dreams, and when she puts out a folk album, it is titled Fryin' Up Some o' Sis' Greatest Grits (runner up: Whalin' & Winnin', Pickin' & Grinnin'). She has a precious heirloom: a Ziploc bag of Holocaust paraphernalia. She will have a pet peacock, she will discover Newton's other law, and she will have three kids: one is bald, one "can smoke," and the third is incapable of being chosen not-last.
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