piñata of randomness

Call me!

2005-12-19T15:31:00.000-08:00

I'd love to talk.

The Rainbow called...

2005-09-27T01:17:00.000-07:00

Today, after months of debating and rationalizing, I finally broke down and purchased another pair of Rainbow sandals. After ruining three pairs due to water damage, I wised up and bought the smooth leather sandals (which are water resistant). My wallet is a little lighter, but that should aid the bounce that I'll have in my step when I finally put on my new kicks (shout-out to Sarah).

The rest of this blog will be buffet style... except I'm the one making your plate. So, with much to choose from, here are a few things that I've thrown together to fill you up. It's been awhile, so tuck a napkin into your shirt and keep the Pepto-Bismol close (incase your body reacts to this blog in the same way that it reacts to Imperial China Buffet)

Team Spirit Tour

On September 13th, The Sweetheart Gang (minus one member, but adding two new members), made our way to Cleveland to see Sufjan Stevens. In a word: heavenly. Seeing Sufjan earlier in the summer was great, but seeing him by myself didn’t compare to experiencing the concert with people I love who happen to really love Sufjan. And witnessing the girls melt over his vocals was pretty great too. Many fond memories were made that night. It was really good to see Dan. I miss that guy so much-- he's such a phenomenal man. I'm so blessed to have him as a brother and I really can't say enough good things about him. The evening concluded with getting our merch autographed (by both Sufjan and Dan). Good times!

Strong bones, weak stomach...

Several weeks ago, some of my friends and I stopped at Tim Hortons on the way home from Wal-Mart. Earlier in the night Chris Escueta said that he could drink a half-gallon of milk, after seeing me do it while we shopped (I had to wash down my cinnamon roll). Overly confident, Chris said: "I could do it in a half hour." To which I replied: "Then do it." Being a man, he couldn't step down. So he ordered a bear claw at T. Hortons and got to drinking. After a quarter gallon, he began to act as if he was drunk-- no joke. The more milk he consumed, the more delirious he became. The whole situation was just sad. The peer pressure was intense! Guys were questioning Chris' masculinity and threatened to think less of him if he didn't finish. Long story short: he didn't finish the milk, but he did throw up twice in the bathroom (he managed to cover most of the floor and a little bit of his shirt with barf).

The Tim Hortons incident was worsened by the fact that we brought in outside food and beverages. I went as far as to ask the guy behind the counter to warm up my Pop Tarts. Being a kind guy, and because I asked very nicely, he gladly microwaved them (NOTE: there is a misprint on wrapper's heating instructions. 3 seconds should read 30 seconds). So Tim Hortons only sold us a bear claw and a muffin, which were promptly returned to them. A bad deal if you ask me.

Say Cheese

Caroline and I went to Robinson on Saturday afternoon with no idea what we were in for. We began at Ikea, with two rules: (1) we could only buy candles if they were for John Magee and (2) we could only talk to strangers if they talked to us first. As we browsed, I turned around and noticed this special gentleman (in his early thirties) sitting on an awkward wicker basket. I shook my finger at him and gave him a look of disapproval (much like a parent would give a child). He began to talk to me and ask me questions, which was a little odd... I went with it though, and quickly made a new friend: fascinating!

Drained from meeting new people and shopping for poor quality furniture, we decided to go to Fat Burger. I opted for the King Burger (1 1/2 lbs. of meat and your picture is placed on the wall). The food, as always, was choice. Unfortunately, the consumption of my mound of meat was complicated by a bun that could not stand up to the grease that was oozing from the three hamburger patties held within it. The bun looked a little something like this: imagine an entire Kindergarten class sick with runny noses (go with me). Now instead of each child using their own tissue, they all share the same one. My bun looked like that tissue after it's 35th use. And I enjoyed every bite! Should you be at Fat Burger anytime soon, look for the picture of the brightly dressed guy giving a thumbs and the caption: "Like BUTTAH."

Well, I must be getting to bed now... I have to wake up early for a dentist appointment. As much as I want to get the huge hole in my tooth filled, I'm honestly going to miss it. Poor dental health has created a great solidarity between myself and the people of the Ohio Valley Region.

**This blog is dedicated to my good friend Carrie. I’m look forward to our study time.

Also, did you have "Book-It" in Washington? If not, it's an elementary school program that rewarded reading with pizza. After reading five books, a student would get a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut-- pretty sweet! I think we should apply the same system to our study habits. How does pizza after ever 5 hours of study together sound (that's combined hours... I get hungry every 2 1/2 hours)? Let me know what you think, buddy.

Size Too Small

2005-08-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

There comes a time in a person's life when he or she must "suck it up" and git-er-dun. Just as my sister did not want to watch Must Love Dogs with me this evening, but went to make me happy (and for a free Icee), I really do not want to blog, but I will for another person's happiness (as per Grace's request). Which brings me to my first story. Tonight when my sister and I were loading up on all the free food and drinks we could carry, I thought to myself: "This is cute: a brother and his little sister at the movies. We look so much alike (we were both wearing black framed glasses)." On my second trip to the concessions stand, the girl helping me said: "So you brought your girlfriend-- that's cute!" I replied: "Yeah! She's a great girl-- I'm so glad that she puts up with me... even when I want to see movies like Must Love Dogs." Well, I didn't say that... but you can imagine what'd be like. I simply thought to myself: We look so much alike! What are you thinking???"

The following is a synopsis of the past week...

Guero, Texas Ranger

Usually, I fall asleep at 5am and wake up at 3pm. This was not the case on Tuesday. For some reason, I fell asleep at 11pm and woke up at 3am. After dividing my time between thinking about monkeys, dinosaurs, sailing, fashion, Jell-O, and spending time on the computer, I turned on the TV to find that Walker Texas Ranger was on! Score! The title of this episode was "El Coyote (part II)." In this episode, Walker goes undercover, posing as a Mexican immigrant/ farm laborer, so that he can investigate the murder of a field worker. First off, Walker is white! What were the producers thinking?: Hey if we give him a beard and dye his hair black, no one will question his ethnicity!" Yet another reason to love the show. So as I ate my breakfast (choice leftover pizza), I couldn't help but be thankful for a show that has a two-part episode in which more happens in the last ten minutes of the second part, then in the first hour and fifty minutes. We’ll all agree, it’s the show’s flaws that make it so entertaining!

Small Body, Large Belly

In a momentary lapse of boredom at work, I looked out a window to see a little girl punching her grandpa's huge belly. He would tighten it up, as much as a beer belly can tighten, and then he would give her the signal to hit him. She punched him with her tiny fist about five times, and I couldn’t help but laugh each time. It was such a bizarre and fascinating sight. But what kind of message was he sending to this little girl?: that's okay to hit the elderly and people who are overweight?...

Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

I encounter enumerable rude people while working concessions at the movie theater. I can partially understand adults being short or demanding, but teenage punks are another story. Often times, kids will ask for an item in a rude or harsh tone. On several occasions, I've glanced up from what I have been doing with a look of "What did you just say to me?". Two of these times, the kid (one a thug) said to me: "Please. I'm sorry, I didn't say ‘please’." Also, there was time when a kid walked through our lobby and let loose a huge burp as he looked at me. I gave him a stern look and he promptly said "Excuse me." Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of releasing gas, but there's a time and place for it. That time is when you're in your 70s and the place is the church pew.

The Fast And The Frustrated

I spent a few days at the beach this past weekend, which proved to be an interesting time and a good lesson in humility. When I put my wetsuit on I thought: “Wow, I must be getting buff… this suit is really tight in the arms.” Later, I realized that I had used my sister’s wetsuit, which was meant to be worn by someone who doesn’t weigh more than 105lbs. After surfing, I rode ATVs with my cousin, who has several quads and a dirt bike. It was a criz-azy time of riding on massive dunes and going a little faster than I should have. In all, it was a fun weekend and a good opportunity to spend time with my cousin who still looks up to me (he's 16, and despite admiring me, he thinks he can kick my butt because he's got a half a foot on me). I tried to treasure my time with him while he still thinks I'm cool. Chances are, the next time I see him he'll put me in a headlock or pants me.

I would just like to give a quick shout-out to the people who have been with me since the beginning of this blog. Though the number of people who visit this blog daily has greatly increased (from about 2 a day, to over 30 a day), I most appreciate you who have been loyal from the beginning. Even though I'm making it big in the blogging world, I promise to remain the same person. I expect you to refer to me as Sir, but I'm the same guy. I keed! I keed! But seriously, keep it bloggerific, like it's all terrific! Much love!

How I've Bean...

2005-08-12T23:50:00.000-07:00

My sister and I got really hungry at 2:00am a couple of days ago, and decided to make a trip to the Taco Bell Drive-Thru. As I pull up to the box to order, I hear a voice say: "Welcome To Taco Bell! How have you bean?" I started laughing really hard and responded in a thick Mexican accent: "I bean real good!" My sister got really mad at me for making fun of the girl and called me insensitive. I replied to my sister, in the middle of ordering: "She said bean, instead of been! She had to have said it on purpose-- I'm sure it's a common T-Bell joke! Of course I'm going to say something about it!" As the girl taking my order read back my items, it occurred to me that maybe she wasn't joking earlier. She did indeed have a very thick accent, which was highlighted by the pronunciation of the words Gordita and nachos. I felt bad about commenting on her accent and got out of there as soon as she spit in my food.

I haven't really done much the past few days. I was asked to lead the high school youth group while our youth minister is at World Youth Day, so I did that on Wednesday. It was a great opportunity to continue to discern my future profession and get to schooled in humility. The group has grown and changed a lot throughout the past year, and very few of the new kids know me. I spent the first hour of the night introducing myself to everyone and getting to know a little about their faith. Most kids were surprised by my forwardness, but understood why when they found out that I wasn't a fellow high school student. Most of the kids: "Which high school do you go to? Is this your first time at youth group?" Many laughs were had and it was definitely a good time! I gave a lesson on the Saints and it was great to clarify a lot of misconceptions. It was also good to share about the honor that is due to Our Lady and how my relationship with St. Joseph has transformed my life.

On a completely different topic, I heard this song yesterday that blew me away! The song is called "Hide And Seek" by Imogen Heap. I haven't heard a song by a female vocalist so unique, moving, and so choice, since Frou Frou's "Let Go" (it's probably not a coincidence that the songs are by the same artist). So download it today-- your music collection will be greatly improved.

In Honor Of Sarah

2005-08-08T18:33:00.000-07:00

Well, it's a new week and that usually means a new CD. This week is a little different... I HAD to buy two discounted CDs that jumped out at me. For weeks I've been waiting for the new Foo Fighters ultra-pricey double disc to go on sale. Well, it finally did, along with another CD that I had been looking for. So I broke down and purchased "In Your Honor" and Aqualung's "Strange And Beautiful." So much music... and so little time to listen to it. As of now, I've only given a good listen to disc one of the Foo album.

Foo Fighters - In Your Honor (disc one): This project screams ambition. Creating an album rivaling the unique and clever Speakerboxx/Love Below, the Foo Fighters have produced a double disc album that is incongruous with the typical CD formula. The band describes the discs as "one loud and one not so loud." I didn't know what to expect by loud... but they mean loud!! Disc one, beginning with the sound of guitar feedback, builds to a powerful first scream, which takes you deep into a sea of loud rock and doesn't let you up for air. Track after track (until about track 8), The Foo sock it harder and harder to the listener. At times a scream-fest, this album is very layered and extremely well done. While not at all like the soft/acoustic music that I have preferred throughout the past year, I still found beauty in the emotion of Dave Grhol's voice-- even his screaming. Screaming, for me, is like putting mayonnaise on a choice sandwich... it just sours and ruins the entire thing for me-- but that is not the case with Grhol's vocals. With this album, the screaming is more like a tomato on a BLT: I don't prefer tomato, but it is an essential component, which in the end result makes for a very enjoyable experience. So take a big breath and dive right into this album-- it is a treat!

Disclaimer: drive with caution when listening to this CD, it has been known to pump people up and lead to speeding (and if you live in Michigan, driving 5mph over the speed limit results in a $90 ticket and a feeling of a loss of innocence)

Disc Two is predominately acoustic and needs further listens before I can give it a review. So far, my gut tells me that it's the weaker of the two discs. To be continued...

You Don't Know The Half Of It

2005-08-04T23:44:00.000-07:00

The following blog, while long, isn't even close to half of what I wanted to discuss in this post. Blogging is just too much work and I have far too many thoughts and stories floating around my head. I hope you enjoy what I decided to share.

The Conversion That Leads To Death

That’s right kids, it’s that time again: time for more stories from work. Until Tuesday, I had not had butter on movie theater popcorn in 15 years. I remember very clearly the day that my Dad let me get butter on my popcorn. It was the first and only time that he allowed it because he’s such a health freak. To be honest, 15 years ago I thought the fake butter was gross! But Tuesday, I was so hungry that I would literally eat anything. After hours of serving popcorn, and having not eaten the entire day, I broke down and ate buttered popcorn. It was actually quite choice. Chased with Mr. Pibb, it was a bomb combination. I was converted, but how long would it last. It was very likely that I could die that day from the small amount of butter that I consumed. Minutes later, a huge box of butter split open and leaked about a gallon of fake butter everywhere. I was the only one there to clean it up, so I got to it.

A Different Kind of Roach At 4:20

I went back to our storage closet to grab a mop and bucket. I turned the light on and the roaches scattered. As I grabbed a mop, a roach ran up my arm. I felt a little sick to my stomach. I kept my composure and saved what I could have thrown up into my mouth for my 30 minute clean up of the smelly, oily butter—just plain sick!

A Habit That I Don’t Want To Kick

I decided yesterday, after recognizing my music purchasing habit, that I’m going to make a point of buying one CD that is under $10 every week. Yesterday, I realized that I have done just that, every week for the past month (except for the week that I bought four CDs… but I couldn’t pass them up—they were a steal!) The past two weeks I’ve purchased on a whim. Last week I did minor research and decided to buy the CD based on ten seconds of one song. This week's CD was purchased because of the buzz it had been receiving and without ever hearing any of it. The following is what I think of these discs in the order that they were purchased.

Feist – Let It Die: I bought this CD after only listening to four songs from it. When I heard DJ scratching in one of the songs, a song that you would never expect to hear scratching in, I knew I had to by this album. My description of the album as a whole: so fresh and so clean, clean. This CD, while nothing extraordinary, still manages to be refreshingly hip. Its vocals are smooth, soothing, and catchy. If you want to chill out with a smile on your face, listen to this CD. (Note: this review was intentionally vague, so as to peek your interest in listening to the music yourself—so get to Amazon!) Grade: B+

The Shout Out Louds – HOWL HOWL GAFF GAFF: This group inspired me to create a new genre of music: Trindie Rock. Any band whose name begins in “The,” or is from Sweden, Iceland, or Norway, or whose band members look like Kenneth Cole models, fall under this genre (i.e.: The Strokes, Sondre Lerche, Kings of Convenience, etc.). But that’s about the only inspiration this CD created. I would describe the quality of the disc as being the exact midpoint between mediocre and superb. It’s definitely better than average, but it also doesn’t really do a whole lot for me (kind of like Cheerios). The songs are Strokes-esque, in that they sound very 70s, but The Shout Out Louds just don’t rock as hard nor as well as The Strokes. For fans of Indie music, you’ll find this CD enjoyable in the same way a cigarette smoker finds the patch enjoyable: you’ll be temporarily satisfied but eager for the real thing. This disc is decent rock music with a foreign twist. I’ll give the band this: they sure can make a cardigan look hip! Grade: C+ (NOTE: reviewed after only two listens)

Meet The Grandparents

2005-08-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

Choose A Natural High

I had a conversation with my grandpa, a few days ago, about school and my plans for the future. He was excited to hear about what I’ve been up to and eager to offer advice. My grandpa: “Well Robert, you’re very close to being done with school. Now don’t let drugs interfere with accomplishing your goals. Stay away from those drugs, Robert.”
“Haha! Are you serious?”
“Yes. Those drugs… they scare me! But… I guess you’ve outgrown the ‘drug age.’”
“I’ve never used drugs, Papa! And I don’t plan on starting.”
(My grandpa gives me this look like: Yeah right, you’ve never used drugs) “I know you haven’t, Robert. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

Grandma’s Baby Boy

One thing that I have to get use to, when I come home from school, is letting my grandma spoil me. I frequently go to her house to eat pizza on my lunch breaks, which are always choice meals. A couple of days ago I called her and said: “I don’t work tomorrow, but would it be okay if I came over for lunch?” Nanny: “Why sure honey— you know you’re welcome anytime!” I went to my grandma’s the next day expecting to eat pizza, only to find that she had prepared me a steak that weighed well over a pound. I was psyched, to say the least. On top of that, her refrigerator is fully stocked with Coca-Cola Classic. As I opened my Coke, my grandma handed me a “bendy straw” and said: “These are new straws-- they have a monkey on their box! I got them because I know how you love monkeys.” So cute! My grandma is too good to me.

Pointless...

2005-07-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, after days of pestering and two missed appointments, my sister Courtney finally gave me a haircut. I asked for "the usual" and let her do her thing. I was so engrossed by the issue of RollingStone that I was reading, that I didn't realize that she had trimmed my point completely off. Sadly, what remains is a Fashion Hawk... something far inferior to what I wanted. For fans of "the point," don't worry... I will grow one out by the next time I see you (sorry Meg, I didn't have the heart to tell you on the phone). The lesson to be learned: hair (especially a super sweet point) is far more important than a two-month old article about Beck.

Country Time

From time to time I like to go on drives through the country. Not because I like the smell of dairies, but because I love the beautiful scenery. Ordinarily, the views are not that attractive. But after purchasing some bomb sunglasses for $5 at a Kwik-E-Mart, I've been able to see the world through another lens (or lenses). These sunglasses have orange lenses and make everything look criz-azy. Colors are so vivid and everything around me looks like something out of a Tim Burton movie. Yesterday happened to be a particularly beautiful day. The sky way blue (and not grey) for once and we actually had clouds. So I put on some ethereal music and took a nice drive through the country. The green of the cornfields seemed to pop out at me and looked so beautiful against the blue and white sky. My drive was one of the most beautiful and surreal experiences I've ever had. The lesson to be learned: sunglasses are much cheaper than hallucinogens, but yield the same results.

Shake Them Haters Off!

Last night I felt compelled to put on one of the five bike-racing shirts that I recently scored at a thrift shop (for a dollar each). Inspired by the tight-fitting shirt, I grabbed a bike and decided to race it through town. The shirt conveniently has two pockets located on the lower back. One held my iPod and the other held a bottle of water. As I enjoyed my bike ride, I heard someone yell "Hey Fruit!". The lesson to be learned: don't let the haters get to you. People who drive are jealous of the privileged people who ride bikes.

A Righteous B

For dinner, my mom brought home the biggest burrito that I've ever seen. It really hit the spot after a draining bike ride. Lesson to be learned: burritos are to be eaten and not thrown out of car windows.

Cute As A Button

Thanks to Miss Grace Dirkes, my sister Hannah is now sporting some choice button bracelets. Last night an old lady walked up to her and said: "Can I see those bracelets? Oh, buttons! I'm fascinated by buttons. Wow! (awkward period of staring at the bracelets) Wow, buttons are so fascinating!" Lesson to be learned: buttons are the preferred BLING on the elderly.

Hustle & Slow: Nacho Ordinary Job

2005-07-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

Kid And Play:

Until last weekend, I was in love with every aspect of working at Galaxy 9 Theaters. I enjoyed cleaning spilled nachos off the carpet, holding dance battles between my coworkers, poring ice in urinals, smiling big, and giving a thumbs up to everyone who deserved one. But Friday was the day I had been dreading for three weeks: the day that I would begin working concessions. Concessions is definitely the busiest job, and creates the greatest number of opportunities for customers to become frustrated and act out in a rude and abrasive manner. Friday rolls around and I find myself thrust into my dreaded job on or busiest evening. So I did what any kid would do, make the most out of what you have by treating the whole situation as a big game. Along with having to learn how to do my job, I tried to sell particular food items that people didn’t want to buy. “Hey, I know you only want a small drink and small popcorn… but if you get our ‘Batman Combo,’ you can get a large popcorn and a large drink in this super sweet Batman cup! So can I interest you in this cup and combo?” In addition to playing games involving customers, I would play games with myself. Working concessions in extremely intense and fast-paced, but only in spurts. We will have an hour rush, followed by two hours on nothing. This is the time when we restock and prepare for the next rush. But there’s only so much preparation that can be done, which never takes two hours. So once the important and immediate things our done, I have two main games that I like to play. One, I try to clean the same spot of the counter as many times as I can before someone realizes that I’ve cleaned the same spot more than 15 times in one hour. While cleaning, I often look for fascinating people. My town is a breeding ground for people who make me smile and question everything I think reality is. Mullets, on both adults and kids, are a common sight. A recent trend has been temporary tattoos. Women of all backgrounds and styles, throughout the past week, have been sporting fake tattoos… which I’m fascinated by. The most fascinating moment of last weekend came from an unlikely person. As I was handing someone their 84 oz soda, I looked up to see a 30-something aged woman playing a shot’em up arcade game. Here’s a woman who looks like she has just stepped out of an Anne Taylor catalogue holding a gun and blowing away zombies. It was such an odd sight—I couldn’t help but laugh to myself.

Small Body, Large Coke:

I would have to say that he cutest thing that I’ve seen in the past month came from a very small body. As I was tearing customer’s tickets, I looked down to a mini Dakota Fanning holding the biggest drink we sell (to give you an idea of how skinny she was, hold together your pointer and middle fingers—that’s about the width of her forearm). She had her arms around the coke as if she was hugging it (but it was more like she was holding onto it with all her strength). It was such a cute sight to see a 3 year-old girl holding onto a cup almost as long as her torso (and nearly as wide).

Not So Late Registration:

I was in Wal-Mart on Monday and I saw a sign advertising Kanye West’s new CD. According to the sign, the CD came out on July 12. I felt a mixture of excitement and disappointment. I was pysched to pick up the album, but frustrated that I hadn’t purchased it two weeks earlier. I was surprised to hear from an employee: “Sorry dude, we are completely sold-out of it...” So next, I went to Target, only find that there wasn’t even an empty space where the album once was. On top of that, the “CD Guy” hadn’t ever heard of Kanye West. Why is it that guys who should be working in comic book shops, work in the music section of popular stores? I kept thinking to myself: This CD is a big deal!!! Why are there two shelves of Bow Wow CDs and no one seems to know anything about “Late Registration.” Long story short, I got impatient and decided to by the album on Amazon. It turns out that the CD doesn’t come out until August 30! Apparently, the Wal-Mart employee who told me that the album was sold out, also works in the model airplane section and was high on glue at the time I talked to him.

12 oz. of Atlanta

2005-07-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

Coca-Cola is so choice. One of the perks of working at a movie theater is free soda. On my breaks, or during slow times, I'm almost always drinking the sweet milk of the South (12 oz. at a time). I love my job-- who wouldn't like smiling big and tearing tickets for 7 hours? Some people ask me: "How is it that you're always so happy when you're at work?" The answer is simple: Coke adds life! Well friends, this has been my brief endorsement of a Classic drink. So to all my friends in Steubenville... throw one back for me, I'm throwing them back for you (on the job, even). Much love!

Carnies, Doughnuts, and Drug Tests

2005-07-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

Note: the following story depicts actual events as described to me by Hannah Casares.

As my sister walked around the Orange County Fair, she couldn't help but covet the giant stuffed Nemo fish that various people had won at the carnival. Much like a woman from Napoleon Dynamite, she said aloud: "I want that." This moment of weakness allowed her to journey within talking distance of a carnival worker. As my sister and her friend Sarah waited in line for "La Grande Wheel," they heard a strange voice saying to them: "Ladies, ladies, come here." They looked up to see a Carnie gesturing them over. My sister, being the adventurous girl that see is, accepted the Carnie's invitation and began to talk to him. He said to her: "One win earns you a prize!" My sister's greed instantly kicked in and she responded, "How about one win earns me the 'four win' prize?" Realizing what he was up against, the Carnie replied with: "How about I give you a prize (holding up a small stuffed dog) even if you don't win." Hannah: "Nah... I want to take home the giant animal." [Alright this is where is gets sketchy...] After a moment of hesitation the Carnie worker said to my sister: "Well, I could say something right now..." "What?!?" replied my sister, confused by situation.
"Well, if you don't win you can take me home."
"I don't take men I don't know home."
"Hi, I'm David-- now you know me!"
"I'm sorry, I don't take strange men home."
"I'm not strange-- I'm a Carnie!"
"Oh, look Sarah... we just lost our place in line and five people went ahead of us. We better get back in line."
Apparently, there were several other run-ins with "David the Carnie" throughout the day, but this was the most memorable. The lesson to be learned (if you are a female): stay away from the Orange County Fair, unless you would like to go on a date with a self-confident Carnie named David.

Moving on... I was driving this morning and I saw a cop eating a doughnut. I couldn't help but laugh. I know that cops are people too... and doughnuts are tasty... but it was just a funny sight! So I had a few good chuckles and was on my way to my drug test. That's right: drug test, baby! I had to be tested for my new job. The sad thing is, I didn't even get tested today. I drank all that water and psyched myself up for nothing. I don't know if you've ever peed in a cup, but it's more challenging than it looks... I get stage fright very easily.

A Beautiful Mind

2005-07-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was more fun than a barrel of monkeys (which are a lot of fun)! On Thursday I drove down to Huntington to eat lunch with Megan Breen. We went to the Sugar Shack, a place where "everyone in Huntington has to eat at least once a week." The food was good, but the service was redic. As the waitress was placing my plate on the table, I turned (not seeing her) and was hit in the nose with my plate. Caught off guard, I replied: "I'm really sorry (in a very sincere tone), I'm blind in this eye." The girl felt terrible! Megan, feeling a little embarrassed, told the waitress that I was lying. The waitress, feeling like an idiot, called me an A-hole (she said the actual word)... I quickly responded: "I'M THE A-HOLE (out of anger, I actually said the real word)? YOU JUST HIT A BLIND GUY IN THE EYE!" She continued to give me the business, but I shut her down by saying: "Could you please speak up (pointing to my left ear), this is my bad ear." Much banter was exchanged throughout the next half hour. It was concluded with her saying: "Just eat your food so I can go home." My response: "I'll eat your tip with it too."

After lunch, Megan and I drove down to Coronado to surprise Sam on his birthday. After hours of searching, we finally met up with Sam He was very surprised to see me... we hadn't talked once all summer. It was a fun evening of crazy-loud times and embarrassing people in public (if you can imagine Sam and I acting that way).

The next day was "Aubrey Marks Day," which consisted of me making a list of things that I'd like to do and allowing Aubrey to hang out with me (I kid). It was a lot of fun! Last semester Aubrey and I would go on random missions at 1 or 2 in the morning and I really missed those times. Friday was a good opportunity to relive the fun that we had at school, but on her home turf. We went thrifting in the gay district of San Diego, rode bikes for a really long time (the highlight of my time with her), and watched Full House, among the various other things we did that day. That evening, before I had to leave, we did the last thing that was on my list: eat rugged mexican food. To testify to how authentically rugged the food was, I still have an upset stomach three days later (no joke).

After dinner it was time to do what I came to San Diego to do: SEE SUFJAN STEVENS!!! I got to the concert an hour and a half early and was the first person there. This allowed me to walk directly up to the stage, dead-center. The opening band began to play and there were hardly any people at the venue. As I looked around, I noticed that Sufan was standing just behind me. I casually and discretely went up to him (so as to not blow his cover) and got his autograph-- it was awesome. An hour and a half later, Sufjan and the Illinoisemakers [scroll down to see a picture of them] took the stage. I've seen some good bands in concert, but never have I been so impressed by a person's talent! Sufjan's ability to compose complex and beautiful music, combined with his phenomenal voice, floored me. I couldn't help but smile the entire concert. On top of that, I was just three feet from him-- it was unreal. I can't even put into words what seeing Sufjan meant to me, but of course I will try. Think back to 1998, when the Backstreet Boys were huge and girls were crying and screaming at their concerts. These girls were extremely excited to see these dudes. On the inside, that's how excited I was! Sufjan is my Nick Carter and I was mesmerized by him every minute he was on stage. In a few words, Sufjan is a genius and the concert was the bomb!

If you ever get a chance, see Sufjan in concert-- he will not disappoint!

"It's quite okay for a gangsta to wear sandals." --Common

2005-07-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

Well, friends... it has been a long time since I last blogged. So many fun and crunk things have happened in the past month and I hope that this blog will not look too time-consuming to read. I haven't blogged in a whole month, so please hear me out.

The beginning: About a month ago the Sweetheart Gang made their second pilgrimage to Columbus to see Iron & Wine. It was glorious! We were about 6 feet from the stage, in the center. The whole concert, Meg and I were hoping that he would play Trapeze Swinger (are new favorite I&W song). And guess what... Trapeze Swinger was the only song that he played for his encore. It was maybe the best 9 minutes and 31 seconds of my life! And Sam Beam winked at Meg as the entire Gang gave him a thumbs up (she's still in shock a month later). A perfect end to a flawless concert (opening band excluded). As a nightcap, we made our way to Waffle House to eat some Dirty South cooking-- enough said!

My remaining time in Steubenville was marked with much prayer. Not being in school for my last three weeks there, and having lots of free time on my hands, allowed me to be very introspective and prayerful. I really learned to love silence and grew in a deeper understanding of myself as a man. I walked a lot each day, with the intention of being in silence with God and simply enjoying His beauty in creation (for those of you who know Steubenville, please do not laugh... I'm serious). It was a very simple and powerful time of growth.

At this time I would like to give some shout outs to all of my friends! In reflecting on my life and its many blessings, I was especially thankful for the friends that God has generously given me. Each one of you love so well and encourage me to be a better person. I always feel so appreciated and respected when I am with you, and for that I am extremely grateful. Mad props to all my homies!

The Middle: At the end of June I made my way home. It was tough to say goodbye to all my friends in Steubenville whom I had gotten use to hanging out with everyday... but I knew that I had to go home. Shortly after returning home, I turned 24 on July 1st (also Sufjan Stevens' birthday). It was a pretty good day overall. My parents threw a party for me and it was good to see my extended family. My kid sister made me a birthday cake that said "Happy Crunk Day!", which was off the hook!

The End: for the sake of length, and to write about more important things (I kid), I will write in a later blog about the many changes that have been taking place in my life. Now it's time for an "All-Chicago" review of some CDs that I've been recently listening to. Click on the title and artist to go to Amazon.com to sample songs from these discs.

Common - "Be [edited]": Enough good things cannot be said about this album. In a time when so much attention is being given to Southern Rap, particularly due to the upcoming release of the motion picture Hustle & Flow, Common's CD is a refreshing and intelligent showcase of Mid-West talent. Produced by Kanye West, also from Chicago, this album is jam-packed with original beats and witty lyrics that will not cease to impress you and make you smile. Common proves with "Be," that credibility is more important than notoriety. Take that Dirty South! Grade: B

Wilco - "Being There": This Chicago-based band has been around for over ten years, but has only received national attention since releasing "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" in 2002. This album, which was released in 1996, is arguably as good, but less mainstream. I honestly hadn't heard any music from this disc until a few months ago when I saw Wilco in concert. Though unfamiliar, the songs performed struck me as being extremely catchy and powerful. "Being There" is two discs of breath-taking vocals and is truly a gem. It is definitely worth a listen and will not disappoint any Wilco fan. Grade: B+

Sufjan Stevens - "Come On Feel The Illinoise": This album is a masterpiece of originality and beauty. I argue that this is the best CD that has been released this year. Sufjan's second theme CD dedicated to one of the 50 states (his last being dedicated to Michigan), chronicles his memories of his time spent in Illinois. You simply need to listen to this CD, it is like nothing I've ever heard and there is no point in describing it. Standout tracks include: "Concerning the U.F.O Sighting...," "Jacksonville," "Decatur...," "Casimir Pulaski Day" (my personal favorite), and "Chicago." Grade: A

I'm going to see Sufjan in San Diego on Friday. Fortunately, I got the day off... so I will not have to quit my job. I missed seeing him once and it was not going to happen again. It is sure to be a concert of a lifetime and I can't wait to see my homeboy live!

Well, if you made this far... you're a good friend. Thanks for caring and much love!

Friends + fireworks = fun!

2005-06-13T02:30:00.000-07:00

The Bike Brigade is proud to announce that it has received two new members. This weekend, in the state of Maryland, Russell Hoyt and Chris Madden were accepted into our gang. Russell, as previously mentioned, will now go by the name of Crocket. Chris will now be known as J.J. (after the guy he blew a kiss to at an amusement park... there's much more to the story, so if you would like the details, just ask Chris). To celebrate this this joyous addition to the Bike Brigade (but mostly to be crazy), the three of us went to Old Forge Elementry school in Haggerstown and lit off a bunch fireworks. Many firecrackers were thrown at J.J.-- which is mean, but very funny (earlier in the night, Crocket shot 10 Roman Candles at him. One melted some of his hair and another grazed his arm). The highlight of the fireworks extravaganza was the lighting of the "Frienship Fountain" which shot thousands of large sparks high into the air. The three of us then ran through the sparks, jumping over the fountain. Exciting, slightly dangerous, and overall a good time!

Suburban Slow Jams:

Now it's time to move on to the music section of the blog. This week's CD is X&Y by Coldplay.This album, the much-anticipated followup to 2003's A Rush of Blood To The Head, is already selling out of stores and rocking the suburbs. This disc is filled with irony. The production of the music is flawless, while its lyrics are arguably flawed. They are simplistic, trite, and simply cheesy. While Chris Martin's lyrics are the weakest part of the album, they work well on the level of highlighting his phenomenal voice. Because Martin's voice is so strong and beatiful, his cutesie overly-rhymed lyrics seem to work, when they might fail for a less talented vocalist. The album will most likely disappoint a majority of listeners who are expecting a showcase of catchy upbeat songs. This album is considerably slower than previous Coldplay albums, and yet still rocks. With all this said, this album is worth a listen and definitely provides glimpses of brilliance. Standout tracks include: Fix You, Speed of Sound, A Message, and Swallowed In The Sea.

Never a dull moment at The Sharp Edge

2005-05-31T00:45:00.000-07:00

The Sharp Edge was both a memorable experience and a sociological experiment. Many laughs were shared over good food and choice brews, as well as some intense observation of a couple seated next to us. This couple did not draw our attention because of what they did, but because of what they were not doing. They hardly spoke a word the entire dinner. They were very quiet and cold to one another, an obvious contrast to the table I was sitting at. Despite the often inappropriately loud laughs and many interesting stories being shared at my table, I couldn't help but study the dynamic of the mystery couple. Both people were middle age and I assumed were married. I sought to confirm this assumption by spotting wedding rings. This endeavor took a painfully long time. It took close to five minutes before both rings came into sight, confirming my suspicion. By this time, it was noticeable to all of my friends that I was staring at the couple, who were only four feet away from me. After consulting my colleagues, if you will, the results of my study proved to be inconclusive. We unanimously agreed that each person was indeed married, but disagreed on whether or not the two were married to each other. After conducting our sociological experiment, the crew (Nasty, Meg, and Gina) capped off the night with a viewing of The Phantom Of The Opera, while enjoying some tasty cinnamon rolls. For those of you who are beginning to doubt my "hetero-street credentials," I downloaded the new Sufjan Stevens album,** while sitting in front of a TV playing "The Phantom'... I didn't actually watch it.

**I will later dedicate an entire blog to this masterpiece.

Moving on...
Oh, music... how sweet thou art! To borrow, and slightly change, a quote from a well-known brother: "[Music]: God's love made [audible]." Never have truer words been spoken. God communicates his goodness to us in many ways, and this weekend his used Mariah Carrey and Gwen Steffani as the channels of his love (crazy, maybe not even funny, but stick it out). The songs "We Belong Together" and "Holla Back Girl (radio edit)" have been in heavy rotation in both my CD player and in my head. While everything about these songs, namely their commerciality, would seem to create a great obstacle to me listening them, it is with humility and joy that I can proclaim my great love for these songs. Sometimes catchiness can wear down even the biggest of music snobs and lead to an appreciation of music created for 13 year-old daily viewers of TRL. Enough said.

View my blog soon to read about other guilty and embarrassing pleasures of mine...

We ride tonight!

2005-05-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

It is with sincere joy that I proclaim that the Bike Brigade (Steubenville Chapter) was formed on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 with two bikes and a dream. Our vision: that the campus of Franciscan University, and surrounding areas, might be terrorized by men riding bicycles made for women (and outfitted to safely hold a small child in the comfort of a secure children's seat). This dream, though realized yesterday, has yet to reach complete fulfillment. We eagerly await the day when Russell Hoyt, the man who originally conceived of the Bike Brigade, purchases a bike from a thrift shop and joins his brothers in the mission of semi-speedy travel.

For now, the current members of the Bike Brigade are John Stadelman, who is hereafter to be referred to as "Nasty" (Mr. Nasty to anyone not affiliated with our gang) and myself, who is hereafter to be referred to as "Bodie" (pronounced BO-dee, a nickname taken from the word bodacious). As with any newly formed group, this is an exciting time of establishing traditions and enjoying the communal bond experienced in working toward our goals (namely, riding sweet bikes in style).

We love and miss you Russell. Patience, my brother. You will one day own a killer bike and go by the name of Crockett (so given for the coonskin cap made of your hair that your head will soon adorn).

In closing, bicycles are so choice. If you have the means, I suggest picking one up.

Graduate School... a lot like growing a beard.

2005-05-23T20:25:00.001-07:00

Time... it takes a good amount of time to be successful in both endeavors. For some reason I thought that I could complete my first graduate assignment the morning it was due. Synthesizing 12 sources into a 7-page opinion paper is a lot like trying to connect your mustache to your goatee... it's not going to happen over night and the task will definitely be a challenge. A valuable lesson was learned this morning: hard work and perseverance will yield posiitive results, even in hopeless situations (it didn't work this morning, but hopefully future hard work will pay off).

Brevity: it's a beutiful thing (so is using an uncommon word when a common one will do, so as to sound like a pompous jackass).

Much love!

Hella plans?

2005-05-21T23:53:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time since the last time I blogged, so here's a little list of what I've done since then:

-tossed a computer off a cliff
-bashed a computer monitor with a baseball bat
-climbed on top of a building at school (miss judged how high up I was) and then dangled from the edge, eventually letting go to fall a good distance (it hurt a little bit)
-graduated from college
-ate a grande meal from Taco Bell (10 tacos: 5 crunchy, 5 soft)
-slept on a couch for the past week, falling asleep to Conan O'Brian each night
-discovered the band "The Owls"-- a small band from Minnesota-- listen to them, they'll change your life!
** "I know it's boring, but it's my life."

Moving on... I never thought I'd make this statement, but Star Wars Episode III is dope! If you haven't seen it, git-er-dun!

What I did tonight:
After sipping on a Budweiser Select for what seemed like an hour, I realized that I had only consumed one third of the bad boy. At that point, Miss Gina D'Urso exclaimed at the top of her lungs: "You suck at drinking beer!" Not only was one of my biggest insecurities recognized and confirmed by a female, but it was exclaimed loud enough for all of Pennsylvania Avenue to hear. Now my friends and the local drug dealers are aware of my inability to drink beer comparable to my gender. On a side note, I would like to give Budweiser Select my stamp of approval. Thanks Hannah for your suggestion... I want you to know how much I value a 17 year-old's beer recommendation.

Alrighty, I'm spent. Dominic, I apologize for this disappointing blog (you've already heard about some of this stuff) Sorry man, but I gave you all I've got. Peace.

Not stubble, not yet a mustache...

2005-05-03T22:40:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since my last entry. Now, I am almost to the point where I can say I have a mustache. Some would say that having a mustache is nothing to brag about, but for me it’s an accomplishment. Guys, think back to when you were a young boy. For most of us, the person we most wanted to be like was our father. Maybe it was his strength, his confidence, or his athleticism. For me, I wanted my dad’s thick impressive mustache. For my whole life my dad has had a mustache, and for that entire time I coveted it. So now, in imitation of Donald Sr., I’m striving to have a stache as fine as Tom Selleck’s. My day will come.

In other news, Ninjas are totally AWESOME. Don't believe me, see for yourself: http://www.realultimatepower.net/

Since I (presumably) peeked your interest by saying that a lot has happened since my last entry, I will cruelly withhold those details for a later blog. Instead, I will make a few CD recommendations for your consideration.

The HoTTness:

1. The String Quartet – "A Tribute to Dashboard Confessional": This disc is comprised of ten popular Dashboard Confessional songs transcribed and performed by a string quartet. For fans of DC, this CD is truly a gem. Even without lyrics, these catchy tunes will remind you why you fell in love with the songs in the first place.

2. Damien Rice – "O": Gorgeous folk music. Rice, who is well known in the Indie world, is beginning to gain much deserved attention on the mainstream level. I first heard this CD in early April and listened to it nonstop for an entire week, with enumerable listens throughout that month. "O" is simple, beautiful, and moving.

3. Lali Puna – "Faking The Books": This disc has the potential to bring vastly different groups together in a way reminiscent of Outkast. In this case, I’m not talking about black and white people but instead, Indie Hipsters and Mainstreamers. Wielding a scope of influence and sound comparable to The Postal Service, Lali Puna will be enjoyed by many listeners. Not to minimalize Lali Puna’s sound, but to make a general description of it, Faking The Books sounds much like The Postal Service with female vocals resembling and rivaling Frou Frou.

Peace up; A-Town down!

Cheaper By The Dozen

2005-04-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I look at people and wonder: 'What drives that person?' Is it ambition? Determination? Or chowder? Well, here's a little list of things I'm shooting for... those things that motivate me to git-er-dun! Hopefully, with hard work, self-denial, a little luck, and a miracle (see my highest goal), I will be able to accomplish these goals.

Life goals (list created on April 11, 2005):

In general:
- participate in an intense car chase on foot that involves running over the tops of cars stopped in traffic
- make someone laugh so hard that they pee their pants (almost successful with Brigid Sweeney, who had to run to a bathroom to avoid an embarrassing situation)
- run a marathon (tentative date is November 6, 2005: New York Marathon)
- learn to break-dance
- win a dance battle
- watch a full season of 24 in one sitting
- win an intramural frisbee championship
- own a monkey (second highest goal)
- spend the night in the library without getting caught (failed once)
- make a spontaneous road-trip to a random location without packing anything

Education:
- earn an A.A. and brag about having one, as if it's the coolest college degree to have (goal met in May 2002)
- begin and finish my senior thesis
- earn a M.A. in theology
- earn a MR. degree
- prepare myself well to become the primary educator of my children

Fashion:
- grow a beard (my highest goal)
- model in a fashion show (goal met on April 14, 2005)
- wear a button-up shirt with sweatpants
- wear a turtleneck with a suit
- wear a pair of rainbow sandals everyday until they are completely worn through
- popularize the wearing of the color purple by men, making it "the new pink"

Music:
- direct a music video (student video, not professional)
- become proficient on the guitar
- write a song
- see the following bands/artists in concert: Radiohead, Coldplay, The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine, Dashboard Confessional, Beck, Jack Johnson, and Smoosh.

Food:
- in imitation of the beef Ramen wrapper, eat steak and beef Ramen as a meal (goal met on April 23, 2004)
- eat a dozen Krispe Kreme doughnuts in one sitting (April 18, 2005)
- eat an entire meal out of food samples
- eat at Bahama Breeze (failed twice due to two-hour waits)
- hit a person with a balloon filled with clam chowder (goal met on April 13, 2005)

Qué Onda Guero

2005-04-05T15:50:00.001-07:00

I am continually fascinated by the people around me. From the guy who falls asleep in my Metaphysics class, exposing his FTL briefs that don't quite cover his buttcrack, to the guy whose computer broke and who requests a copy of the Professor's lecture notes each class session, rather than hand-writing the notes (some guts). Franciscan University truly is a magnet, which pulls all interesting (and weird) people to itself. Only here (and maybe at Cal Tech), would a person wear an Anime button-up shirt with tapered sweatpants. But I give these people mad props for not buying into the cookie-cutter image of AE and A&F. Anime FOR LIFE!

I would now like to make a few CD recommendations for my loyal readers (all four of you). So here's a little sample platter, if you will:

1. Beck - Guero: Funky fresh lyrics over equally fly jams. A treat for fans and non-fans. Beck just received a convert yesterday. Welcome Russell Hoyt! We've been waiting for you.
2. Adem - Homesongs: One of folk's finest. Beautiful sounds that include xylophones and classic lyrics like "la-da-dee, la-da-dee." Truly music to chill to.
3. Smoosh - She Like Electric: Simply fun. Music written and performed by two pre-teen sisters from Seattle (ages 10 and 12). Upbeat and uplifting. D'Aug will get my back on this one.
4. A.C. Newman - The Slow Motion: Solid rock music. It's nothing innovative but regardless, it is rock done well. Plus, whistling in a song-- what a treat!
5. Tilly and the Wall - We Like Children: Unique, foreign-sounding, and choice! In the tradition of Belle & Sebastian, this group combines interesting vocals with simple and beautiful music. This is not heavy rotation music, so expect to hear quality that you can't exactly put your finger on (whatever that means).

I would like to conclude by giving a shout-out to Erin Holford. Happy Birthday, Sister! Remember: CRACK KILLS! Love you!

4 out of 5 dentists prefer this blog

2005-03-28T13:10:00.000-08:00

It has been a few days since my last entry and a lot of things have been floating around in my head. First, imagine you are in your dorm bathroom, if you will. As you walk to the sink, and begin to turn the water on, you accidentally knock someone else's toothbrush on the ground. What do you do now? Think quickly! The correct answer: throw the toothbrush in the trash! Though this is the correct course of action, the overwhelming response I receive to this question is to simply rinse the toothbrush off and put it back in its original location. A nice thought... or is it? Imagine every person on your floor walking through your mouth, along with all the gross stuff that has accumulated on both their shoes and bare feet... and throw in a little fecal bacteria... it's a little something like that. Think about that, all you sickos who thought rinsing was an appropriate solution to a dropped toothbrush.

Moving on. This is the personal part of the blog. While this section may be a little boring, it is an attempt to share about myself. From the time I was in junior high until now, I have always been so tired (or lazy) at night, that I go to sleep in whatever I was wearing that day. That's right, I sleep in jeans 90% of the time. You may be saying: "sleeping in jeans sounds uncomfortable." But I put forth this argument: does eating rice for every meal sound appetizing? Probably not. But it's hard for my Asian friends to go one meal without eating rice. The point: when you are raised with a habitual behavior, you are socialized to like or prefer it. Thus, my ideal and preferred pajamas are jeans and a polo shirt. Odd (and random), but true. So that was a little glimpse in my head and an attempt at rationalizing my lack of bedtime preparation.

There are many more thoughts still floating around... but for the sake of length, and so that I can go eat at the fine dining establishment known as Spankies... I will end here.

Much love!

Bad Boyz! Whatcha gonna do?

2005-03-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

Well, today the school notified Samuel Harrison Blair, in writing, that he is to meet with the director of Residence Life tomorrow. This meeting will take place at 11:00am. So if you could pray for Sam at that time, he would greatly appreciate it. For spending the night in the library, the school stated that we were in violation of rule 3.9 of the Franciscan University Handbook.The rule states: "Violation of federal, state, or local law on University premises..." Let me break this down like a fraction. By citing this rule, the school is implying that my friends and I broke into the library. This would be considered "breaking and entering" and thus a violation of state and local laws. However, we entered the library during normal hours of operation, by entering doors that were open to the entire student body. This is distinct from breaking into a locked building and thus, not a violation of any law.

One might argue that we must have been in violation of some school rule and I would agree. Rule 3.17 strictly prohibits "camping on University premises." By virtue of the fact the Sam, Dan, and I brought pillows, sleeping bags (and I brought my teddy bear), this act could be considered 'camping.' If we were hit with this rule in our meeting with Residence Life we would have no room to maneuver and would be forced to admit guilt. But fortunately 3.17 is not the rule in question.

By now you're probably thinking: In talking with you, I've heard many incidences of rule breaking throughout this school year. How many other rules have you and your friends broken?

Here's a little list of other rules we may have viloated during the course of the 2004-2005 school year: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.8, 3.9 (as alleged by the school), 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.17, 3.21, 3.22.

Well, take care and keep stickin' it to the man!

A Wet-N-Wild Week

2005-03-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

This week has been CRIZAZY! I have been threatened twice in the past 5 days with being reported to Student Life for violating school rules. Earlier in the week, Dan, Sam, and I spent the night in the library. We refer to this event as Operation Totem Pole. That adventure lasted until about 2:18am and was abruptly cut short by a Jefferson Security gurad who was surprised to find the three of us hanging out in an upstairs study area. Our ID numbers were taken and threats were made. On the up side, we have the whole night on tape and are in the process of editing it.

Later in the week Sam and I got into a huge water fight in the cafeteria. We were yelled at by a lunch lady, our school IDs were confiscated, and my pride was stripped from me. Apparently throwing water is the eqivilent of throwing food and is considered a serious offense. Sam, being the smooth man he is, talked to the cafeteria manager and got our IDs back, along with getting all punishments dropped.

It was a rough week, but it ended strong. I capped Sunday off with an all-campus viewing of Ocean's 12 and enjoyed my first Molsen with Dan and Jim. Talking with those guys improved my vocabulary and added years to my life. I am also proud to say that my picture made it on Jim's wall... a life goal of mine (which I had made earlier in the evening).

What time is it? Tonsure time!

2005-03-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

What up, peeps?

You ever have the feeling that someone is staring at you? Well, yesterday was not just a day of feeling like people were staring at me, but a day of catching people staring at me. You might ask: "Why would people stare at you?" My response: a tonsure. After having a bowl cut for several days, my roommate and I decided to take it up a notch and shave the tops of our heads as well. In the tradition of the Franciscan Order, Samuel Blair and I dropped the tonsure on Franciscan University. Like with many changes, some people were not ready for what they were seeing. As a result, we received a mixture of responses, varying from 'hot' to 'dirty'.

Moving on.. I really admire people who write long and interesting blogs. I, as of right now, am not one of those people. So for awhile, my blogs will be like me... short and sweet.