January

Well, folks, January is almost over, and I would be remiss if I didn't give a small summary of how this month has been going. So, strap yourselves in, and keep all hands, legs, arms, and sanity inside the moving vehicle at all times!

"Things are going to get pretty interesting."
"Define 'interesting.'"
"'Oh God, oh God, we're all going to die.'"
"This is the Captain, we're going to experience some turbulence and then... explode." - Wash & Mal, Serenity

Well, I started this month with four of my close friends in San Jose, ironically enough in a Dave & Buster's. I have visited the Winchester Rifle Mystery House, played more video games than I care count, and finally caught up in the realm of certain anime that I love.

I have visited TAC again, and found that things never really change there, only the faces do (and not even that is a certitude). While I miss the faces, and some of the oddities that are peculiar to TAC, if the truth be known I don't miss TAC proper. I just haven't found somewhere better yet...

I have finally caught up with some of my friends. It seems that some of their plans for the future have changed drastically since I saw them last, but others have stayed true to their original courses (you know who you are, so I will not name names), while still others have taken logical steps on the path before them, even if they didn't see it originally. I hope that whatever the course taken by any of my friends, they get to the same destination.

My own course has been battered by winds, rains, and storms; yet I stay true to my guiding star. My star still shines upon the journalism field. I will continue to pursue my path until I can do so no longer.

Speaking of those following the path destiny has lain at their feet, my Steelers have defied everyone's expectations and have gone from sixth seed in the AFC playoffs to being the AFC Champions! If I was to make one of those fan signs you see people showing on National TV, it would go something like this:

GETTING TO THE SUPER BOWL IS AS EASY AS

3 BENGALS

1 COLTS

2 BRONCOS

LOOK OUT, SEAHAWKS, HERE WE COME!

But, as you can see, I am not on National TV, nor can I even do my sign right with these limited controls (I mean seriously, I can't even paste in struck through text! Oh well.

Well, this month has been interesting. Here's to hoping next month start with a bang!

The fire burning in my veins IS my family!

Since I don't have much time to kill, just a little, this will be brief. I am still interested in this thing, so I will still do it. On to the adventure!
As you might infer from the title, I say family. Though how I define family is different than true blood family. I make maybe two or three friends a year (if I am lucky/interested in doing so). To me, my blood family ends at my parents. I have no brothers or sisters, have never really interacted with my extended family much, so my friends ARE my family to me. My brothers, sisters, confidants and informants... there is nothing in the world that I value more than these! I don't give my friendship lightly, and it takes a lot to earn my trust. But once I give it, it is almost for life. It takes a severe betrayal for me to cut someone off. No, once you are part of my family I will willingly die to protect you, always try to make you laugh when you are down, give you the best advice I can, and give you my shoulder to cry on when I can do nothing else. That, to me, is family.
Strangers are those that I will not do much more than be civil with. I distrust all who are not me or mine. No real offense, but I can't trust you until you become family to me.
Anyway, this is a bit longer than expected. The pic is of me and my brothers on our San Jose trip. A picture tells a thosand words. What does this say to you?



An Experiment in Longevity: Topic TWO

OK, bear with me

I know I promised that the next song I uploaded the lyrics for would be "happier", but I can't help it right now, things are going way to weirdly/darkly for me to really post a happy song.
Those of you that pray, say a prayer for me if you would, I certainly could use it.
On the plus side, this is the first song I've posted that was written in my lifetime! Take what you can, give nothing back.
Be well.

Artist: Linkin Park (everybody gasp!)
Song: Somewhere I Belong (note, things in brackets are sung by a secondary singer)

(When this began)
I had nothing to say
And I get lost in the nothingness inside of me
(I was confused)
And I let it all out to find
That I'm not the only person with these things in mind
(Inside of me)
But all the vacancy the words revealed
Is the only real thing that I've got left to feel
(Nothing to lose)
Just stuck/hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own

I wanna heal, Iwanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I've held so long
(Erase all the pain till it's gone)
I wanna heal, I wann feel like I'm close to something real
I wanna find something I've wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

And I've got nothing to say
I can't believe I didn't fall right down on my face
(I was confused)
Looking everywhere only to find
That it's not the way I had imagined it all in my mind
(So what am I)
What do I have but negativity
'Cause I can't justify the way, everyone is looking at me
(Nothing to lose)
Nothing to gain/hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own

I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I’ve held so long
(Erase all the pain till it’s gone)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m close to something real
I wanna find something I’ve wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

I will never know myself until I do this on my own
And I will never feel anything else, until my wounds are healed
I will never be anything till I break away from me
I will break away, I'll find myself today

I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I’ve held so long
(Erase all the pain till it’s gone)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m close to something real
I wanna find something I’ve wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm somewhere I belong
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm somewhere I belong
Somewhere I belong

[Like I said, maybe by expressing my anger/angst/whatever in words I will finally be happy enough to post some joyfull songs.]

Funny ending

Strong Bad e-mail after clickers tend to be decent, but this one should strike a chord with all the Greek scholars, TAC homeschoolers, and most people who have had a Strong Sad in class before.
Bleach 65 is out by Datte-Bayyo (no, no link until either Lunar or Bleach Society put it out) but it is a decent DB translation (unlike 63 and 64, this one actually makes some sense!) so if you have to have that fix, go ahead and get it.
Now for a quote:
"The future ain't what it used to be." - Yogi Berra
Be well, all.

Another thing I wanted to do

Well, my car won't go and my school is again closed due to winds, so I guess everything balances out right now. If the car doesn't go tommorrow, however, I might be in trouble.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how my application to Marquette is going. I filled out the formal form of application this weekend, and I got confirmation from one of my former professors that he sent a letter or recommendation for me today, so things are going well. I need to get the other two letters, but those two professers have said they will write one for me. The GRE is taken, but I need to make sure that the grades were, in fact, sent to Marquette. One of my two transcripts should be sent soon (thank you Mimi!) but the other is proving to be a hastle. And there still is the matter of the Academic Statement of Purpose, but it should be done soon. Anyway, just thought I would keep anyone who is interested "in the loop" for now.
"Everyone keeps talking about beer googles. I can't find the plans for them anywhere!" - Male Gnome emote.
Be well.

Something I'm going along with...

In case this needs explaining, click the link below and you will get as much explaination as I have.

Without further ado: MY WORLD!!!
Sure, it isn't all mine yet (funds for my battlemech army are low right now) but one day it will be!
Seriously, folks, I don't view the world as mine in the strictest sense. It was made for me, true, but not just me. I want to see most of it before I pass on.
I want others to be able to see it through me. I want my world tours to reach even those that cannot leave their areas due to commitments. It is my world, but I don't want to be its only resident.

Then you get into the "virtual world" of online gamers. People on the same street playing with people half a world away in real time. Think about the tech advances that make that possible! Only 100 years ago people could barely communicate across a state in weeks. Now I can post this and english speaking/reading people the world over can read it instantly! To quote the Daily Show's John Stewart: "'Riding up to the Internet?!' That's not a generation gap, that's a frickin' CANYON!"

Well, this is shorter than expected, or maybe longer than expected, but I am known for being too wordy when I should be brief and too terse when I should expound on things, so I will leave it at that.

Be well.

An Experiment in Longevity: Week 1- Topic Numero Uno!!!

Many things

I have many points, but don't want to waste time on any particular one. So, here it goes:
1) STEELERS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!! Here's to hope, even in dark times.
2) Class was cancelled on account of wind. Believe it or not, trees were being knocked down and people as well, so they closed the campus.
3) If you watch Bleach, you must see through 62. (63 and 64 have yet to be released by Lunar, but they are funny as well.) SO MUCH HAPPENS, but I won't spoil it for you.
4) SB e-mails are in, watch when you can.
5) If you have TV, and have not started the new season of 24, FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T!!! So much happenned in the first four episodes that you will be hopelessly lost if you try to start now. Just wait for Season 5 to come out on DVD. If you have seen the first four episodes, go ahead and watch tonight. You have my blessing. In fact, I will hunt you down if you don't! Just kidding.
Anyway, I have to go. I hope that you are doing well where ever you are.
"I'll kill a man in a fair fight. Or if I think he's going to start a fair fight." - Jayne, Serenity

WoW

World of Warcraft: A.K.A. Techno Crack, Online Opium, & The Virtual Killer.
No, I do not play yet. I am fighting the temptation to start "pure" online gaming as much as possible. But it is SO HARD!!! Warcraft is MY universe! I have played every single game that has come out, and have even read most of the novels. The only things saving me from this online peril are 1) school work takes most of my time, and 2) I have yet to find a cash of prepaid game cards (I refuse to pay via credit card or PayPal). Otherwise, I might be playing now instead of writing this.
This thing is not letting me post pictures right now, so I will settle with a quote:
"I come from the Orcs, We eat with spoons and forks, We love to eat our pork." - Male Orc singing, an emote that you can get if you play as a male orc.
Anyway, be safe all of you. Go Steelers!

Keep those lyrics rolling

Well, before I launch my third song, I will comment on a few things:
1) I am back at home again. I visited TAC over the long weekend, in case you didn't know.
2) Steelers beat the Colts! Way too close for comfort, but we still are in the running.
3) Some times the best solution to a problem is the obvious one.

Anyway, here is the song. Enjoy!

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Song: Paint It Black

(note: sometimes I think that this should be the theme song to my autobiography...)

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer cloths
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I see a line of cars and they're all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens ev'ry day

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facin' up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not forsee this thing happening to you

If I look hard enough into the settin' sun
My love will laugh with me before the mornin' comes

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer cloths
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

Hmm, hmm, hmm, ...

I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah!

(OK, that was a little depressing. Next time I will publish a "lighter" song, I promise.)

If there is a bright center of the universe...

...then this is the point farthest from.

Well, folks, I am about to leave here for a while. I won't say where I am going (if you know already it is because I want you to know, and if not don't ask) or why I am going there. I will talk about this more later.

In other news, I found out who I am writing for in the Coyote Chronicle (CSUSB's paper): The Sports section. No, I don't really want to be there, but there I am. I will do my best to carry out my duties. Right now they have me doing interviews, but who knows how long that will last.

Anyway, here is the quote of the entry:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." - Thomas Jefferson

Goodnight, friends, and good luck.

Comm 240 & Comm 243A

Why, you ask, am I mentioning those two classes out of the four I am taking this quarter? Simple: They are the most time intensive/preperatory/fun classes I will be taking. Sure, Comm Theory and Intercultural Comm (Comm 306 and Comm 304 respectively) are interesting in their own right, but Writing for the Media (240) and Comm Practicum: Journalism/Photojournalism (243A) will be related to my future field. In WM I am learning all about how to write in newspaper style (I might give pointers on this blog if I get the time) and in CP:J/PJ I will actually be writing for the school paper. Neat, huh? These will not be easy courses, but I will try my best and learn as much as I can. Coincidentally, I have the same professor (Prof. Jim Smart) for both, and thus I have him once a day, every day, five days a week.
I promised two quotes this time, so here they are:
"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." - Confucius
"Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book..." - Dwight D. Eisenhower
I hope you all are doing well. Be well and peace be with you.

Where has all the time gone?

Well, my friends, time keeps getting away from me, despite my efforts to prevent it and the change it brings.
After leaving the train station at 4:40 AM this morning (my friend Z needed to finally return home and AmTrak is always late) very little was going through my sleep-fogged head, except for wondering what in my car was causing that disturbing sound and how very much I would look forward to finally getting to sleep. If I had been more conscious I might have noted that things around me were changing rapidly. My friends, who for the first time in five years were all united under one roof, had all once again gone their separate ways. School starts tommorrow, and I really don't want to go back again. The deadlines are coming up on my application to Marquette. And to top it all off, my car needs to go to the shop again for yet another repair.

...I may be imagining things, but I do believe that I am getting old.

Regardless, I have things to do, so I will leave you with something dear to my heart: The Steelers beat the tar out of the Bengals in their own stadium once again, winning by a 14 point margin (the spread was three points in our favor), namely with a score of 31-17. We advance to play argueably one of the better teams this year: The Colts. If we beat them, we should be able to beat the winner of the Denver/New England game (knock on wood). Pictures are from the official website, visit it sometime.

No quote this time, double quote next time.

Be well and God Bless!

Back from San Jose

Hey everyone! Happy New Year!
I just got back from my trip to San Jose with some old High School/College friends. The time went by way too quickly, but we had a blast! We watched the entire Star Wars saga, went to the Winchester Rifle Mystery House (a very crazy place, let me tell you), played a few hours of Star Wars Battlefront II (I love playing as the Emperor), and hung out in general. One of my friends is still with me, but the rest of us have parted ways for now. School starts up again the 9th, so blogging will definately become less frequent. Regardless, I hope you are all in good health.
Here is the quote:
"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods." - Aristotle
Be well, and God watch over you.