If These Goths Could Talk
It's graduation time again, which means the annual posting of the senior class photos in the Union Banner (aka "Bummer"), my soon-to-be former hometown's weekly newspaper. Pictures from three of the four (because the western-most school in the county just doesn't count)county high schools are featured in the fold out special. The kids in the Catholic school portion always look (for the most part) bright eyed and clean scrubbed. My school has this (wise) tradition of taking the pictures at school on picture day with a standard uniform of tux tops and jackets for boys and those black velvet drapes (like we wear in our composite pics...if I had known then what I know now, I would have started wearing pearls for portraits sooner) for the girls. It just looks better that way. The other school, Central, has the "roughest" looking kids in the county. Included in this years poses/looks...Central style...a guy mid-deerhunt (ie-bow pulled back, aiming, ready to shoot), several greasy people with faraway looks, an angry boy scowling at the camera ("I'm so angry to be in high school...I'm even angrier to be graduating!"), and several blonde girls with roots and low cut tops "making love to the camera."
The best one, though, by far was this Goth Girl staring at the camera with this look of contempt and frustration. I can just hear her screaming at me now "You could never understand me! I'm 3,000 years old!"
Same Video, Different Song
Watching MTV right now...the last three videos (in a row) played all had the same look/feel to them. The look of pictures pasted onto a background. Didn't catch the first band, the second was Bumblebeez81(?) and the last one Modest Mouse. Watch these videos and then tell me if you agree.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
I Never Cease to be Amazed by Grocery Stores
Today while in Metropolis, home of Superman, I grabbed some lunch from a grocery store and discovered that you can just go up to the counter of the deli and have them make you a sandwich. I don't know why this concept was so surprising and foreign, having come from the greater St. Louis area where seemingly every Schnucks or Dierbergs featured some sort of in-store dining, but I was thrown for a loop when able to go up to the lady that was slicing meat and tell her I wanted a turkey sandwich with a slice of pepper jack cheese. And she didn't just throw the sandwich together-no sir! She loaded that thing up with freshly sliced turkey and put a thin slice of pepper jack on there that was big enough to cover the entire sandwich. There was pepper jack goodness in every bite. And you can apparently do this in most grocery stores too. I think my new passion du jour shall now be eating grocery store sandwiches.
Walking Wisdom
Serious thought should be given to recording my coversations with Nichole on our nightly walks. Nary a mile goes by without one of us spouting out words of wisdom. Whether it be musing on how meeting and getting to know someone over the internet is more "true" because you get to know the essence of a person without all the stuff about appearance or carriage coming into play. Not that appearance and carriage aren't important components of attraction, but when it comes to simply liking another human being...it could be argued that all that matters is essence.
Another nugget of wisdom for the evening was Nichole's analogy of her car to a sexually diseased pretty girl. "She seems like a lot of fun, but I wouldn't want to ride her."
I'm working up to distance running...tonight I ran the length of the football field four times, which doesn't sound like much but hey, you go a long time without heavy duty excercise and then run a footbal field at full speed four times. It'll make you stop, put your hands on your knees and make some sort of awful noise in front of people walking. I swear the first vomitous sound was for comedic effect. That second one was my out-of-shape body going "well maybe that's not such a bad idea."
McDonald's Breakfast Burritos
I fear my affair with the breakfast burrito is coming to an end. It really wasn't that good of a relationship when you think about it. How can you be satisfied with something you're left wanting more of and it's only available certain hours of the day. Granted, it's goodness has helped me through many a mid-morning slump and the joy of waking up early enough to actually get one before class or work was unparalleled at the time. However, this morning when I took a bite of my first one (yeah, I ate two of them, what's it to you?!?) and found it to be cold, I felt a twinge of sadness and regret. Has this how I've been spending my mornings? Watching the clock while typing away, knowing that my window to obtain one was slowly closing? Rolling over in bed on a weekend morning and feeling happy to know I hadn't missed my chance to get one, but sad that it never comes to me. Alas, I'm hooked and I cannot escape. Perhaps some day I'll see the error of my ways and put down my car keys and settle in for the morning with a bowl of oatmeal.
Driving Large Cars
I'm so glad my first car was a 1992 Crown Vic. For starters, that car was really cool because it was big and fast and comfortable. It was a great road car. And even though it didn't make my high school peers jealous, sure's hell many a senior citizen drooled when I drove by with the windows down and my 60s/70s classic rock blaring. I learned to whip that car in and out of tight quarters and how to back it with some skills. Today I realized how much learning to drive a massive car paid off when trying to back an F-150 up to a meeting hall and then through a series of gates guarded by armed guards. If I had to learn to drive say, a Ford Festiva (or something like that), I would have been terrified and thought "if I mess up, they will shoot me!" But instead, I (carefully) put that truck where it needed to be, thinking to myself "it's okay, folks, my first car was a crown vic."
Come to think of it, when interviewing for that Student Ambassador job, when asked about my willingness to learn to drive school vans (I think they're Dodge Ram Vans...they're massive), I replied "If I can drive my Mom's Crown Vic, I think I can handle a van."
Today while in Metropolis, home of Superman, I grabbed some lunch from a grocery store and discovered that you can just go up to the counter of the deli and have them make you a sandwich. I don't know why this concept was so surprising and foreign, having come from the greater St. Louis area where seemingly every Schnucks or Dierbergs featured some sort of in-store dining, but I was thrown for a loop when able to go up to the lady that was slicing meat and tell her I wanted a turkey sandwich with a slice of pepper jack cheese. And she didn't just throw the sandwich together-no sir! She loaded that thing up with freshly sliced turkey and put a thin slice of pepper jack on there that was big enough to cover the entire sandwich. There was pepper jack goodness in every bite. And you can apparently do this in most grocery stores too. I think my new passion du jour shall now be eating grocery store sandwiches.
Walking Wisdom
Serious thought should be given to recording my coversations with Nichole on our nightly walks. Nary a mile goes by without one of us spouting out words of wisdom. Whether it be musing on how meeting and getting to know someone over the internet is more "true" because you get to know the essence of a person without all the stuff about appearance or carriage coming into play. Not that appearance and carriage aren't important components of attraction, but when it comes to simply liking another human being...it could be argued that all that matters is essence.
Another nugget of wisdom for the evening was Nichole's analogy of her car to a sexually diseased pretty girl. "She seems like a lot of fun, but I wouldn't want to ride her."
I'm working up to distance running...tonight I ran the length of the football field four times, which doesn't sound like much but hey, you go a long time without heavy duty excercise and then run a footbal field at full speed four times. It'll make you stop, put your hands on your knees and make some sort of awful noise in front of people walking. I swear the first vomitous sound was for comedic effect. That second one was my out-of-shape body going "well maybe that's not such a bad idea."
McDonald's Breakfast Burritos
I fear my affair with the breakfast burrito is coming to an end. It really wasn't that good of a relationship when you think about it. How can you be satisfied with something you're left wanting more of and it's only available certain hours of the day. Granted, it's goodness has helped me through many a mid-morning slump and the joy of waking up early enough to actually get one before class or work was unparalleled at the time. However, this morning when I took a bite of my first one (yeah, I ate two of them, what's it to you?!?) and found it to be cold, I felt a twinge of sadness and regret. Has this how I've been spending my mornings? Watching the clock while typing away, knowing that my window to obtain one was slowly closing? Rolling over in bed on a weekend morning and feeling happy to know I hadn't missed my chance to get one, but sad that it never comes to me. Alas, I'm hooked and I cannot escape. Perhaps some day I'll see the error of my ways and put down my car keys and settle in for the morning with a bowl of oatmeal.
Driving Large Cars
I'm so glad my first car was a 1992 Crown Vic. For starters, that car was really cool because it was big and fast and comfortable. It was a great road car. And even though it didn't make my high school peers jealous, sure's hell many a senior citizen drooled when I drove by with the windows down and my 60s/70s classic rock blaring. I learned to whip that car in and out of tight quarters and how to back it with some skills. Today I realized how much learning to drive a massive car paid off when trying to back an F-150 up to a meeting hall and then through a series of gates guarded by armed guards. If I had to learn to drive say, a Ford Festiva (or something like that), I would have been terrified and thought "if I mess up, they will shoot me!" But instead, I (carefully) put that truck where it needed to be, thinking to myself "it's okay, folks, my first car was a crown vic."
Come to think of it, when interviewing for that Student Ambassador job, when asked about my willingness to learn to drive school vans (I think they're Dodge Ram Vans...they're massive), I replied "If I can drive my Mom's Crown Vic, I think I can handle a van."
For the Record...
Here is my official statement for those of you who have questioned/commented (not so nicely in some cases) on my decision to get a place of my own next year:
Not that it's any of your business, but I'm at a time in my life where I want space. After I'm finished with school and out on my own, it's just a matter of time before I'm married with a family and I'll never again have a space that is mine and only mine. With work and school and other activities in life, I'm around people nearly every hour of the day and sometimes I just want to close the doors to the world around me and sit on the couch and eat take-out Chinese in my underwear or be able to leave clean towels in the dryer for the better part of the week. If I live alone, I can do these things. Living with the guys for the last 6 months has been a great experience. I've grown to love and appreciate many things about my funny, dynamic and cool roommates, but the fact of the matter is...it's simply time to move on and close this wonderful chapter of my life. So quit your badgering and quit your speculations. I've never perceived myself that great of fodder for coffee talk...besides, to quote my prison yard song "get the f*** out my face, get the f*** out my biznatch"
Here is my official statement for those of you who have questioned/commented (not so nicely in some cases) on my decision to get a place of my own next year:
Not that it's any of your business, but I'm at a time in my life where I want space. After I'm finished with school and out on my own, it's just a matter of time before I'm married with a family and I'll never again have a space that is mine and only mine. With work and school and other activities in life, I'm around people nearly every hour of the day and sometimes I just want to close the doors to the world around me and sit on the couch and eat take-out Chinese in my underwear or be able to leave clean towels in the dryer for the better part of the week. If I live alone, I can do these things. Living with the guys for the last 6 months has been a great experience. I've grown to love and appreciate many things about my funny, dynamic and cool roommates, but the fact of the matter is...it's simply time to move on and close this wonderful chapter of my life. So quit your badgering and quit your speculations. I've never perceived myself that great of fodder for coffee talk...besides, to quote my prison yard song "get the f*** out my face, get the f*** out my biznatch"
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Play-Dough...Oh the Possibilities
The other day while going through some plug and patch kits, I ran across some cans of play dough (which are used for training exercises) and was overtaken by the urge to play with it. Being the only person in the office and experiencing a slow afternoon, I took my chance and spent the next 5-10 minutes quickly and skillfully sculpting a human head out of the funny-smelling blue mound of dough. My finished result bore a strong resemblance to George Washington which is odd considering when I first started kneading the dough, I had a picture of a kitty cat in my head. Founding father...kitty cat...it's amazing how ideas can evolve within a matter of minutes.
I guess that's what I like so much about play dough and clay and other things you can knead and sculpt and use to create whatever the mind can fathom. When you have a clump of some sort of molding compound...that's not a toy in front of you, that's possibilities. Taking what you have and making it into whatever you want it to be. That's often how life is. You have to take what you have in front of you and figure out how you're going to craft it into what is the most satisfying end result. And I love that. I'm in love with possibilities.
Possibilities are infinite and multidimensional. A challenge. Possibility is changing courses mid-journey (and ideally, without consquence). Or are the possibilities so enticing because you don't actually know how the end result will be and it's the mystery of it all that makes the sale. It's the mystery and the curiousity of how things could/would/should...which could probably end up falling into that "grass is always greener..." mentality. Is that possibility over there newer, fresher, and sexier than the one I've been exploring right here.
Of course, possibilities have a dark side. I could rob a bank to fund my need for adventure and material things. I could try to start something on the side with that intriguing (for the record, I'll forever loathe this word but am using it for a lack of a better one) fellow over there. I could kick that annoying person in the teeth. But when considering the possibilities, feasability and reality must be consdidered as well. And the fact of the matter is, I'd get caught robbing that bank, I'm not his type, and I'm likely useless in a fight. So, for today at least (and before I actually type the words "Life is like a Ball of Playdough"), I'll explore the simple possibilities...like cleaning my room, finishing my internship, and deciding where to spend my last year in Murray. But before I do that...I'm going to sculpt another shrunken head.
The other day while going through some plug and patch kits, I ran across some cans of play dough (which are used for training exercises) and was overtaken by the urge to play with it. Being the only person in the office and experiencing a slow afternoon, I took my chance and spent the next 5-10 minutes quickly and skillfully sculpting a human head out of the funny-smelling blue mound of dough. My finished result bore a strong resemblance to George Washington which is odd considering when I first started kneading the dough, I had a picture of a kitty cat in my head. Founding father...kitty cat...it's amazing how ideas can evolve within a matter of minutes.
I guess that's what I like so much about play dough and clay and other things you can knead and sculpt and use to create whatever the mind can fathom. When you have a clump of some sort of molding compound...that's not a toy in front of you, that's possibilities. Taking what you have and making it into whatever you want it to be. That's often how life is. You have to take what you have in front of you and figure out how you're going to craft it into what is the most satisfying end result. And I love that. I'm in love with possibilities.
Possibilities are infinite and multidimensional. A challenge. Possibility is changing courses mid-journey (and ideally, without consquence). Or are the possibilities so enticing because you don't actually know how the end result will be and it's the mystery of it all that makes the sale. It's the mystery and the curiousity of how things could/would/should...which could probably end up falling into that "grass is always greener..." mentality. Is that possibility over there newer, fresher, and sexier than the one I've been exploring right here.
Of course, possibilities have a dark side. I could rob a bank to fund my need for adventure and material things. I could try to start something on the side with that intriguing (for the record, I'll forever loathe this word but am using it for a lack of a better one) fellow over there. I could kick that annoying person in the teeth. But when considering the possibilities, feasability and reality must be consdidered as well. And the fact of the matter is, I'd get caught robbing that bank, I'm not his type, and I'm likely useless in a fight. So, for today at least (and before I actually type the words "Life is like a Ball of Playdough"), I'll explore the simple possibilities...like cleaning my room, finishing my internship, and deciding where to spend my last year in Murray. But before I do that...I'm going to sculpt another shrunken head.
Fresh, Sexy, New
In my sudden urge to make all things in life fresh, sexy, and cool, I've done some redecorating. The pink motif, while nice, doesn't really suit my true tastes. Black does. Why black? Black is sophisticated. Black is mysterious. Black is cool. It suits me better than pink because in case I'm greatly mistaken, I don't think I'm a very pink person. Pink is dull, boring, and old. Black, on the other hand is...fresh, sexy, and cool.
I'm also working on revamping which sites I link to. Sites that I don't visit or are rarely updated are now off the list so I can replace them with fresh, sexy, and new links. If you know of a cool place or would like me to link to you, send me the link and I'll take a look. I'm always up for new places to visit.
Comments are now above each new post rather than at the bottom. I thought it looked weird at first, but it's growing on me.
All questions and comments are welcome. Hope you enjoy the same old sparkyworld with a fresh, sexy, new veneer.
In my sudden urge to make all things in life fresh, sexy, and cool, I've done some redecorating. The pink motif, while nice, doesn't really suit my true tastes. Black does. Why black? Black is sophisticated. Black is mysterious. Black is cool. It suits me better than pink because in case I'm greatly mistaken, I don't think I'm a very pink person. Pink is dull, boring, and old. Black, on the other hand is...fresh, sexy, and cool.
I'm also working on revamping which sites I link to. Sites that I don't visit or are rarely updated are now off the list so I can replace them with fresh, sexy, and new links. If you know of a cool place or would like me to link to you, send me the link and I'll take a look. I'm always up for new places to visit.
Comments are now above each new post rather than at the bottom. I thought it looked weird at first, but it's growing on me.
All questions and comments are welcome. Hope you enjoy the same old sparkyworld with a fresh, sexy, new veneer.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
My Bathroom Floor
I'm not sure what I've done to my bathroom floor tiles, but it's become an incredibly slick surface. Hmm...large bathroom + slick floors...bathroom hockey! It'll be all the rage. Though one benefit of having a dangerously slick floor...the thought of someone from Murray Place coming in to just randomly inspect and slipping and falling on the floor (Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!!!) is priceless.
I'm not sure what I've done to my bathroom floor tiles, but it's become an incredibly slick surface. Hmm...large bathroom + slick floors...bathroom hockey! It'll be all the rage. Though one benefit of having a dangerously slick floor...the thought of someone from Murray Place coming in to just randomly inspect and slipping and falling on the floor (Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!!!) is priceless.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Another Day...
The week is over and it was capped off with beer and pizza with LeeAnn, followed by singing along with the ringtones on my phone. I'm currently shopping for some fun, summer ring tones. Some front runners are: theme from Fresh Prince of BelAir, Love Train, Brick House, and Big Pimpin'. Careful consideration must be given to each possible new ring tone because the way your phone rings says so much about you. Besides, with as much as my phone rings, it has to be a sound I won't mind hearing up to 8 times a day.
I've completed some big things at work this week and have a nice sense of accomplishment right now. I have 110 someodd internship hours logged. 490 more to go. Working full time is a nice break of school, but would it be childish of me to say I'm not ready to give up college life? I think I'll take Fridays for me next semester. I'll use Fridays to get things (school work) finished and clean the house and other idealistic things like that, though in practice, I'm sure it'll mostly be used to sleep in after goofing around into the wee hours Thursday night.
Road Trips
I wish I would have taken a road trip somewhere this weekend. Not home, as nice as it is...I want a place that's new and sexy and fresh. Arkansas is by no means sexy and fresh, but it's not Murray and it's not too terribly far away...I think I'll pack some shizzle and go there next week. Hot Springs...Capone liked to go there, right? If it's good enough for Al Capone, it's good enough for me...except for the whole syphilis thing...
Crime Buff
Speaking of road trips, I have this book about famous crime landmarks and it'd be neat to be able to go visit the majority of places in that book, especially since it seems there's so much within immediate driving distance of Murray. Actually...that's a good idea. Comment in my blog if you want to accompany me to some notable places of crime history in the area on the weekends this summer. With gas prices being astronomical lately, I'd ask you to pitch in for gas, but we (me and brave souls) could pack a cooler and just go have fun. A lot of the places mentioned in the book are free or really cheap if I recall correctly.
Los Portales
This week, I was at Los 3 times in 24 hours. First I went with Nichole Wednesday night. Came home, ran into Gibson who was going to meet Rick and Shaina there, so went back to Los, where I drank water and had a grand time. Then, last night I went with Roni, where we were given blow pop suckers after walking to the register rubbing our bellies. True, it was a small gesture, but it was quite cool nevertheless.
Movie World
I think I'm going to start just hanging out at Movie World.
5 Good Reasons Why it's a Good Idea to Hang Out in Movie World:
1. Air Conditioning. True, I have my own, but I don't have to pay for the A/C at Movie World and summers in Murray are quite sultry.
2. When you go with a friend, you can have a ton of fun talking about movies. Face it, you're in a room full of conversation prompts.
3. When spending a lot of time in a video store, you can find hidden gems and find films to watch that you normally wouldn't.
4. Movies are cool.
5. Three words: The Back Room :naughty:
The week is over and it was capped off with beer and pizza with LeeAnn, followed by singing along with the ringtones on my phone. I'm currently shopping for some fun, summer ring tones. Some front runners are: theme from Fresh Prince of BelAir, Love Train, Brick House, and Big Pimpin'. Careful consideration must be given to each possible new ring tone because the way your phone rings says so much about you. Besides, with as much as my phone rings, it has to be a sound I won't mind hearing up to 8 times a day.
I've completed some big things at work this week and have a nice sense of accomplishment right now. I have 110 someodd internship hours logged. 490 more to go. Working full time is a nice break of school, but would it be childish of me to say I'm not ready to give up college life? I think I'll take Fridays for me next semester. I'll use Fridays to get things (school work) finished and clean the house and other idealistic things like that, though in practice, I'm sure it'll mostly be used to sleep in after goofing around into the wee hours Thursday night.
Road Trips
I wish I would have taken a road trip somewhere this weekend. Not home, as nice as it is...I want a place that's new and sexy and fresh. Arkansas is by no means sexy and fresh, but it's not Murray and it's not too terribly far away...I think I'll pack some shizzle and go there next week. Hot Springs...Capone liked to go there, right? If it's good enough for Al Capone, it's good enough for me...except for the whole syphilis thing...
Crime Buff
Speaking of road trips, I have this book about famous crime landmarks and it'd be neat to be able to go visit the majority of places in that book, especially since it seems there's so much within immediate driving distance of Murray. Actually...that's a good idea. Comment in my blog if you want to accompany me to some notable places of crime history in the area on the weekends this summer. With gas prices being astronomical lately, I'd ask you to pitch in for gas, but we (me and brave souls) could pack a cooler and just go have fun. A lot of the places mentioned in the book are free or really cheap if I recall correctly.
Los Portales
This week, I was at Los 3 times in 24 hours. First I went with Nichole Wednesday night. Came home, ran into Gibson who was going to meet Rick and Shaina there, so went back to Los, where I drank water and had a grand time. Then, last night I went with Roni, where we were given blow pop suckers after walking to the register rubbing our bellies. True, it was a small gesture, but it was quite cool nevertheless.
Movie World
I think I'm going to start just hanging out at Movie World.
5 Good Reasons Why it's a Good Idea to Hang Out in Movie World:
1. Air Conditioning. True, I have my own, but I don't have to pay for the A/C at Movie World and summers in Murray are quite sultry.
2. When you go with a friend, you can have a ton of fun talking about movies. Face it, you're in a room full of conversation prompts.
3. When spending a lot of time in a video store, you can find hidden gems and find films to watch that you normally wouldn't.
4. Movies are cool.
5. Three words: The Back Room :naughty:
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
"Do Good"
Diuguid Drive (note how to pronounce it above) is a palindrome. Well, not the drive part, but if you take the word Diuguid and you reverse it, you get...diuguid. I noticed this on the way to work this morning and have been excited about it since. Like I said, summers in Murray can be boring.
Diuguid Drive (note how to pronounce it above) is a palindrome. Well, not the drive part, but if you take the word Diuguid and you reverse it, you get...diuguid. I noticed this on the way to work this morning and have been excited about it since. Like I said, summers in Murray can be boring.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
On the Road again...
I'm heading back to my parent's house in a little while. Activities for the next few days include: bags and boxes (it goes to Springfield, it gets a box, it's going to be given away or disposed of, bag...there's a whole other system for the bags, but it's quite complicated, hence I shall not elaborate here), lunch with Grandpa, looking at GRE exam preparation material, a trip to Target(interior decorating anyone), and going over the "how it's going to be" notebook. The "how it's going to be" notebook is basically something I use for plotting. Think of it like the fabled "green playbook" in the Waterboy or Eminem's lyric book described in an issue of Rollingstone a few years back. I think I'll also go to Slacker's record/video game shop and see what I can find there. I feel the need to stock up on some Bob Dylan and older Nintendo titles.
I'm heading back to my parent's house in a little while. Activities for the next few days include: bags and boxes (it goes to Springfield, it gets a box, it's going to be given away or disposed of, bag...there's a whole other system for the bags, but it's quite complicated, hence I shall not elaborate here), lunch with Grandpa, looking at GRE exam preparation material, a trip to Target(interior decorating anyone), and going over the "how it's going to be" notebook. The "how it's going to be" notebook is basically something I use for plotting. Think of it like the fabled "green playbook" in the Waterboy or Eminem's lyric book described in an issue of Rollingstone a few years back. I think I'll also go to Slacker's record/video game shop and see what I can find there. I feel the need to stock up on some Bob Dylan and older Nintendo titles.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
ASP Prepared
I walked out of the IT building this afternoon with a stack of study manuals and a headful of ideas concerning the Associate Safety Professional Certification exam I'll be taking in less than a year. All of this test prep and I can't help but wonder: when should I take the GRE? For those who wonder, yes, I can be in grad school and not have GRE scores...I just need to have them on file before I can apply to graduate. I'll probably be taking the GRE later this summer. Yay for standardized tests I say. Yay.
Sleep for Lunch
I had a nap and a tunafish sandwich for lunch today. The nap included really strange dreams, one of which involved a bug attack. Surely that had nothing to do with watching Starship Troopers last night. The one that woke me up was the drive by shooting into the apartment. In the dream, I was in bed napping and all these bullets started flying through the wall. It was really weird.
Insecurity: Part 2
Now, not only is my face too big, I lack "good color." I look sick.
Chest Pains
My heart's been fluttering and hurting all evening, but I'm not saying anything about it. I don't want concern and I'm still more annoyed by it than anything. I figure if it were something truly bad, I would have dropped over by now. I'm not ready to have a heart condition.
I walked out of the IT building this afternoon with a stack of study manuals and a headful of ideas concerning the Associate Safety Professional Certification exam I'll be taking in less than a year. All of this test prep and I can't help but wonder: when should I take the GRE? For those who wonder, yes, I can be in grad school and not have GRE scores...I just need to have them on file before I can apply to graduate. I'll probably be taking the GRE later this summer. Yay for standardized tests I say. Yay.
Sleep for Lunch
I had a nap and a tunafish sandwich for lunch today. The nap included really strange dreams, one of which involved a bug attack. Surely that had nothing to do with watching Starship Troopers last night. The one that woke me up was the drive by shooting into the apartment. In the dream, I was in bed napping and all these bullets started flying through the wall. It was really weird.
Insecurity: Part 2
Now, not only is my face too big, I lack "good color." I look sick.
Chest Pains
My heart's been fluttering and hurting all evening, but I'm not saying anything about it. I don't want concern and I'm still more annoyed by it than anything. I figure if it were something truly bad, I would have dropped over by now. I'm not ready to have a heart condition.
Monday, May 10, 2004
Stuck on You
The guys found some spiders while I was gone last week, so sticky traps were placed throughout the house to keep the critters at bay until the Exterminatrix (she's a well kept petite blonde) can come by and do her thing. The way these traps work is by luring the creepy crawlies with something that yells "hey you! come over here! it's warm and safe and there's probably food and cold beer and hot girls over here!" and then the trap is all "psych!" when the critters get stuck to it, where they get to struggle for days, thinking about their plight before finally collapsing dead! dead! dead! One was placed in my bathroom...turns out pant legs stick to those quite nicely...as do hands, and feet, and chins. After struggling to get the sticky pants on and up (well, it did happen in the bathroom), I went to the kitchen to douse myself in vegetable oil (which dissolves the sticky-remember that, it could save your life some day) as my roommates shot me weird looks and then went back to watching tv. I survived my ordeal, my pants are in the wash...I have a raw patch on my chin where I pulled the sticky trap off my face. I suppose it's reasons like this I'm so entertaining to have around the house.
Insecurity of the Day
I think my face is HUGE. Not like "big-face girl" huge, but quite broad nevertheless.
Conclusion to My Long, Drawn-out Louisville Story
Wednesday: Facilitated a workshop on fall protection with a quite awesome Department of Labor guy out of Cincinatti. Great presentation, very good slides, entertaining and informative. I successfully gave away the door prize (Salty! Delicious! Country Ham!) then hung out in the room for a little while before going to the Louisville Slugger Museum for drinks, a tour, and a catered dinner courtesy of Orr Safety Products. Sleepy from the 4-someodd glasses of wine I had, napped until around 11 then went searching for food. All I found were drunken businessmen in the elevator, so I went back to the room and greedily ate the apple from my Tuesday evening box lunch.
Thursday: Collected tickets for the luncheon and then facilitated another workshop. Hung out in the room for a little bit and then went to the final formal dinner for the Convention. Using my two complementary beverage tickets for wine, I went into the ballroom and was given more tickets for drinks. And even after collecting those, one of our wranglers (ie-person in charge of the student facilitators) came in with a tub of Bud Lights and announced that we'd better stock up before dinner started. Sometime midway through the first keynote speaker, our table started playing a drinking game. Take a sip everytime you hear the words safety, occupational, environmental, health, or workers. After dinner, everyone went to Coyotes and I danced on the stage with my sisters in safety and the president of the safety network (presided over the entire convention). Allison met me there, where I procured her the company of a Marine using my lame Richard Pryor on Fire joke (bring me a book of matches and I'll show you sometime). I'm probably one in a handful of girls that could get guys to approach using the Richard Pryor on fire joke.
Friday: Breakfast, checked out of hotel, got a ride to Allison's apartment (THANKS JILL!) and spent the afternoon riding around the property in a golf cart, eating nachos, and sleeping on the couch. Dinner and drinks on Bardstown Road with Mr. Jeff, Krispy Kremes, and driving Carrie the Camaro through the empty streets of Louisville rounded out the day.
Left for home Saturday early afternoon and had nice drive back to my parents house. At one point, I stopped in Indiana to get a chicken sandwich and asked the lady "where am i?" wanting to know the name of the friendly little town (Coryondo) and that was good for a few laughs. Fueled up again in Santa Claus, IN and got a corndog (because they were fresh and I have a mortal weakness for corndogs) and once again outside Fairfield, IL for a bathroom break (the Farmer's Store is still open and going strong!).
In conclusion...I love conventions. The Galt House Rules. I'm going again next year.
The guys found some spiders while I was gone last week, so sticky traps were placed throughout the house to keep the critters at bay until the Exterminatrix (she's a well kept petite blonde) can come by and do her thing. The way these traps work is by luring the creepy crawlies with something that yells "hey you! come over here! it's warm and safe and there's probably food and cold beer and hot girls over here!" and then the trap is all "psych!" when the critters get stuck to it, where they get to struggle for days, thinking about their plight before finally collapsing dead! dead! dead! One was placed in my bathroom...turns out pant legs stick to those quite nicely...as do hands, and feet, and chins. After struggling to get the sticky pants on and up (well, it did happen in the bathroom), I went to the kitchen to douse myself in vegetable oil (which dissolves the sticky-remember that, it could save your life some day) as my roommates shot me weird looks and then went back to watching tv. I survived my ordeal, my pants are in the wash...I have a raw patch on my chin where I pulled the sticky trap off my face. I suppose it's reasons like this I'm so entertaining to have around the house.
Insecurity of the Day
I think my face is HUGE. Not like "big-face girl" huge, but quite broad nevertheless.
Conclusion to My Long, Drawn-out Louisville Story
Wednesday: Facilitated a workshop on fall protection with a quite awesome Department of Labor guy out of Cincinatti. Great presentation, very good slides, entertaining and informative. I successfully gave away the door prize (Salty! Delicious! Country Ham!) then hung out in the room for a little while before going to the Louisville Slugger Museum for drinks, a tour, and a catered dinner courtesy of Orr Safety Products. Sleepy from the 4-someodd glasses of wine I had, napped until around 11 then went searching for food. All I found were drunken businessmen in the elevator, so I went back to the room and greedily ate the apple from my Tuesday evening box lunch.
Thursday: Collected tickets for the luncheon and then facilitated another workshop. Hung out in the room for a little bit and then went to the final formal dinner for the Convention. Using my two complementary beverage tickets for wine, I went into the ballroom and was given more tickets for drinks. And even after collecting those, one of our wranglers (ie-person in charge of the student facilitators) came in with a tub of Bud Lights and announced that we'd better stock up before dinner started. Sometime midway through the first keynote speaker, our table started playing a drinking game. Take a sip everytime you hear the words safety, occupational, environmental, health, or workers. After dinner, everyone went to Coyotes and I danced on the stage with my sisters in safety and the president of the safety network (presided over the entire convention). Allison met me there, where I procured her the company of a Marine using my lame Richard Pryor on Fire joke (bring me a book of matches and I'll show you sometime). I'm probably one in a handful of girls that could get guys to approach using the Richard Pryor on fire joke.
Friday: Breakfast, checked out of hotel, got a ride to Allison's apartment (THANKS JILL!) and spent the afternoon riding around the property in a golf cart, eating nachos, and sleeping on the couch. Dinner and drinks on Bardstown Road with Mr. Jeff, Krispy Kremes, and driving Carrie the Camaro through the empty streets of Louisville rounded out the day.
Left for home Saturday early afternoon and had nice drive back to my parents house. At one point, I stopped in Indiana to get a chicken sandwich and asked the lady "where am i?" wanting to know the name of the friendly little town (Coryondo) and that was good for a few laughs. Fueled up again in Santa Claus, IN and got a corndog (because they were fresh and I have a mortal weakness for corndogs) and once again outside Fairfield, IL for a bathroom break (the Farmer's Store is still open and going strong!).
In conclusion...I love conventions. The Galt House Rules. I'm going again next year.
Sunday, May 09, 2004
All about Louisville
For those who want to know, here's how the convention went, broken down by day.
Tuesday
Left sometime around 10:30 for my brave journey across the state on ye ole WKY. Highlights of that included: seeing that Arby's in the median somewhere around Beaver Dam, seeing a sign that said Beaver Dam, stopping at an Exon (was it?) at the Leitchfield exit and asking the lady behind the counter which area code it was in and then visiting with her for about 5 minutes, the joy in realizing that I had cellular service once again, and actually making it to my destination on the first attempt (yay for being able to follow driving directions).
The Galt House was quite awesome. My room was on the 10th floor and had a stunning view of the Ohio River and a power substation. Awesome that it had two closets because I was rooming with someone I didn't know very well, so we had our own dressing areas: mine in the bedroom and hers in the tv room (yay for suites). There was still much renovation being done, so I really hope I get to go back next year to see the end result of the construction. Did I mention the Kentucky Safety and Health Network and the Kentucky Department of Labor picked up the room tab, meals, activities, and the majority of my drinks?
Tuesday evening was for student facilitator orientation and partying up and down the Ohio on the Belle of Louisville. Four hours, a bunch of rum runners (thank you KSHN President and other people who helped keep my cup full) and wine, and several plates of shrimp later, we were back on land and walking to Stevie Rays where I gave and received phone numbers (gave to friends and associates male and female,those who wonder) and drank amaretto sours until it was time to go...to PT's, where I got a dance from Sabrina and bonded with my safety friends.
Actually, this is turning into a novel, so installment two will be made sometime tomorrow. I have to go to bed now.
For those who want to know, here's how the convention went, broken down by day.
Tuesday
Left sometime around 10:30 for my brave journey across the state on ye ole WKY. Highlights of that included: seeing that Arby's in the median somewhere around Beaver Dam, seeing a sign that said Beaver Dam, stopping at an Exon (was it?) at the Leitchfield exit and asking the lady behind the counter which area code it was in and then visiting with her for about 5 minutes, the joy in realizing that I had cellular service once again, and actually making it to my destination on the first attempt (yay for being able to follow driving directions).
The Galt House was quite awesome. My room was on the 10th floor and had a stunning view of the Ohio River and a power substation. Awesome that it had two closets because I was rooming with someone I didn't know very well, so we had our own dressing areas: mine in the bedroom and hers in the tv room (yay for suites). There was still much renovation being done, so I really hope I get to go back next year to see the end result of the construction. Did I mention the Kentucky Safety and Health Network and the Kentucky Department of Labor picked up the room tab, meals, activities, and the majority of my drinks?
Tuesday evening was for student facilitator orientation and partying up and down the Ohio on the Belle of Louisville. Four hours, a bunch of rum runners (thank you KSHN President and other people who helped keep my cup full) and wine, and several plates of shrimp later, we were back on land and walking to Stevie Rays where I gave and received phone numbers (gave to friends and associates male and female,those who wonder) and drank amaretto sours until it was time to go...to PT's, where I got a dance from Sabrina and bonded with my safety friends.
Actually, this is turning into a novel, so installment two will be made sometime tomorrow. I have to go to bed now.
Friday, May 07, 2004
Louisville
Greetings from Allison's computer. I feel so very grown up right now because I have a professional convention under my belt, I've spent all weekend networking with people in industry and the Department of Labor, and I've experienced about a year of living in less than a week. This morning, I also bid yet another group of friends the inevitable college farewell of "Have a great life and good luck in your career." I won't be back in Murray for graduation tomorrow partly because I need another day or two away and sometimes it's just too weird to watch those you grow fond of walk across the grad line and out the door.
Greetings from Allison's computer. I feel so very grown up right now because I have a professional convention under my belt, I've spent all weekend networking with people in industry and the Department of Labor, and I've experienced about a year of living in less than a week. This morning, I also bid yet another group of friends the inevitable college farewell of "Have a great life and good luck in your career." I won't be back in Murray for graduation tomorrow partly because I need another day or two away and sometimes it's just too weird to watch those you grow fond of walk across the grad line and out the door.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
The Governor's Conference
Today I bravely venture to the 16th largest city in the US to spread the goodwill of Murray State's Occupational Safety and Health Department...
This will be my first trip to Louisville. It's pretty cool that driving into a strange (as in foreign) city is exciting and not nervewracking. I've heard the people there drive like madmen, but then again, being from the St. Louis area and having worked in the city (as we rural county folk say), I'm used to seeing all sorts of bad driving. Some of my favorite St. Louis rules for driving are as follows: 1) don't use a turn signal. ever. 2) if you're in the far left lane on an 8 lane highway and you need to exit, just cut across all the lanes at the last minute-remember kids, TURN SIGNALS ARE OPTIONAL. 3) if someone cuts you off in traffic or annoys you, pull out a gat and accost them with it. if you don't have a gat, shake your fist and scream...then use your car as a weapon. 4) this one isn't so much a rule as general good advice: stay off presidentially named streets...actually, i've noticed that's good advice for most cities.
So my plan is this...3 nights on the state at the Galt House which I've heard is really nice. Meals? Covered. Activities? Planned. My safety peers? There. Time away from Murray? Indeed.
I'm actually really looking forward to the drive. Four hours in a car, warbling along with the radio will do wonders to clear my head and help me relax from a tough semester...which brings me to another random bit of advice: Don't take 15 hours of graduate work. Most things from this semester...I'd do them all again...except for that 15th hour.
So with that, all those that have finals, good luck. All those leaving for the summer, travel safely and try to stay sane at home. Wish me luck, I'm off to go network...and have fun.
Today I bravely venture to the 16th largest city in the US to spread the goodwill of Murray State's Occupational Safety and Health Department...
This will be my first trip to Louisville. It's pretty cool that driving into a strange (as in foreign) city is exciting and not nervewracking. I've heard the people there drive like madmen, but then again, being from the St. Louis area and having worked in the city (as we rural county folk say), I'm used to seeing all sorts of bad driving. Some of my favorite St. Louis rules for driving are as follows: 1) don't use a turn signal. ever. 2) if you're in the far left lane on an 8 lane highway and you need to exit, just cut across all the lanes at the last minute-remember kids, TURN SIGNALS ARE OPTIONAL. 3) if someone cuts you off in traffic or annoys you, pull out a gat and accost them with it. if you don't have a gat, shake your fist and scream...then use your car as a weapon. 4) this one isn't so much a rule as general good advice: stay off presidentially named streets...actually, i've noticed that's good advice for most cities.
So my plan is this...3 nights on the state at the Galt House which I've heard is really nice. Meals? Covered. Activities? Planned. My safety peers? There. Time away from Murray? Indeed.
I'm actually really looking forward to the drive. Four hours in a car, warbling along with the radio will do wonders to clear my head and help me relax from a tough semester...which brings me to another random bit of advice: Don't take 15 hours of graduate work. Most things from this semester...I'd do them all again...except for that 15th hour.
So with that, all those that have finals, good luck. All those leaving for the summer, travel safely and try to stay sane at home. Wish me luck, I'm off to go network...and have fun.
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