Cartoons

(http://www.ldsfilm.com/TV/FamilyGuy/FamilyGuyVols1and2_big.jpg)

I don't think anyone is old enough for cartoons. Although sitcoms and shows on stations like Comedy Central demonstrate that some humor can only be appreciated by mature audiences, I think that, deep down, everyone loves cartoons.

Look at The Simpsons or Family Guy. It seems like the producers of cartoon television shows have more creative license and can do a lot more than in regular, real-life television shows. Cartoonists can depict roughousing more vividely (e.g. The Itchy and Scratchy Show, Thundercats, a violent Stewie on The Family Guy, etc.) and make it funnier for certain characters to get out of some potentially sticky situations (like stranded on a desert island).

I think what it boils down to is the fact that cartoons help satiate the imaginative desires of the young, who, a majority of the time, are just beginning to distinguish between animation and realitly. However, sometimes its good for adults to relive their childhood experiences and entertain those nonsensical, but creative thoughts by enjoying some old fashioned Disney movies or watch some re-runs of Spiderman: The Animated Series. Cartoons also present a world in which, at the conclusion of one or two episodes in a series, good always triumphs. Maybe I like cartoons because I like to imagine that everything will work out in my own lifetime.

Thanksgiving and Condoms

(Image extrapolated from http://i21.ebayimg.com/01/i/07/96/a8/eb_1.JPG)


I'm really excited for Thanksgiving break. On Saturday I am going to try to get a ticket to the Notre Dame game and tailgate beforehand. I have a feeling this will be a great experience that I will remember (most of it at least, haha!) for awhile. After that, I will hopefully be able to see Ohio State beat Michigan. And then on Sunday I think I am going to visit my family in Columbus. I am doing a Turkey Trot 5-mile race on Thursday and I think I am going out to the bars on Saturday night. Should be a good time...

On another note, my Human Sexuality class is currently discussing the topics of contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). I just think it would be really funny if someone dressed up as the Trojan man for Halloween and gave out cheap condoms for people. I think that person would at least place in any contest (except at SJC) he or she would get into, and the individual would be serving the public health interests.

mmmm....coookies!

(Image from "Cookie" article in Wikipedia.com)


I love cookies! The reason I say this is because I know I have had at least four or five chocolate-macadamian nut cookies in the cafeteria today during lunch and dinner. I don't know what type of MSG or other chemical they put in those things to make them soft and extra delectable, but I just love those cookies!

I would go as far to say that I like cookies more than I do Krispy Kreme donuts...yah, I'm that bold. Cookies just leave a great taste in your mouth. That chewy, gooey taste, left over from the morsels of either chocolate or peanut butter. Hell, even some raisins are good too! Oreo Double-Stuff cookies also please my palate, and I have to run to Wal-Mart to grab some milk if I don't have any in the apartment. Sometimes I just want to grab there or four chocolate chip cookies from the caf, smush them together, then try to fit them all in my mouth, making sure that my glass of milk is ready for action.

Yeah, I love cookies!

November

November is by far my favorite month of the year. Here is a couple of reaons why (no particular order):

1. Cross country winds down and I get some time off to recover
2. Other friends that I have who are on fall sports are able to go to the Pub and hang out
3. Thanksgiving break (a full week!)
4. Ohio State-Michigan rivalry (third Saturday of November!)
5. NBA is just starting up (go Pistons!)
6. Sunday football!
7. All of the major assignments for most of my classes seem to always be done before we leave for Thanksgiving break.
8. College basketball hosts pre-season tournaments (NIT, Spartan clash, etc.)

Thanksgiving break is great because I get to sleep in and recharge, as well as hang out with family I don't see that much. I love the cold air outside...it's just perfect for cross country running (the hardcore runners, that is!). I like Thanksgiving moreso than Christmas because I begin to miss my friends over the three week time period alloted for Christmas break; also, I have to start thinking about Indoor track once we get back from winter break. The bottom line: these next two weeks could not come any sooner!

Rosie O'Donnell Needs to Be Quiet

While working on my blog write-up for class this week, I decided to do a post from Rosie O'Donnell's webpage, Rosie.com. I thought of this because I remembered her little catfight with Elizabeth Hasselbeck on The View that resulted in her leaving the television show and supposedly trashing her dressing room afterwards. I figured I would give her blog a read because she is known to ramble on about how bad she thinks the county is being run. I was not disappointed. Her blog was poetically charged, as she ripped Bush and his administration apart with poetry that seemed like it was just two paragraphs chopped up into two or three word phrases.

After reading her blog, I really think Rosie O'Donnell is a freakin idiot. I feel I can say that because she feels she has the license to make comments on national television about public figures, only to be later reprimanded and look like a fool for her stupidity. How could one forget the Donald Trump controversy last year? She's also taken shots at the Catholic Church, which I know isn't a perfect establishment by any means, but she received flack for that. She's also been dumb to elaborate on certain stereotypes about Chinese people (e.g. "Ching-Chong Ching Chong Ching"). I just think the woman needs to shut her pie-hole and do us all a favor. I am SO glad she did not get casted to replace Bob Barker on The Price is Right.

I Hate It When That Happens!

I just woke up about 10 minutes ago and I felt that I needed to post this or else I would forget a lot of the details.

I had a dream last night where I won $14,000 by answering a man's challenge of throwing a small tomato through a sewer opening. I think I was at a county fair or something, and the man who was challenging the crowd was probably a used car salesman. Every time I landed my tomato through the sewer, the crowd went wild. When I finally made the last one to win $14,000, I jumped in jubilation and the crowd went hysterical. I think I was with another one of my friends, possibly one my roommates, and we embraced.

The rest of the dream is kind of a blur, mostly because I am trying to figure out what to do with the money. And then I woke up. Damn, that stinks! I hate it when that happens!

However, this dream poses and interesting question: What to do with lottery or "lucky" money? Honestly, I probably would have given half the money to my mother (single-parent and works her a$$ off everyday) and probably spend the rest in a frivolous manner. Or I might have paid off my college loans. My dream showed me that I have a tendency to be a materialistic person; I don't know how easily I would be able to answer the challenge of giving up all that I own in order to follow God.

Sticky Situations

Don't you just wake up some days and wonder "I am going to make this a good day!" but, after several unfortunate occurrences, you wonder when the day is going to end?

I think I am prone to getting myself into sticky situations. By sticky situation, I mean those situations that aren't morally reprehensible or can be really damaging to the one's overall image, but those situations that just suck and could have been avoided if some external agent decided to be liberal instead of a stickler or if you had been a minute faster (or slower) than you were. Those types of situations suck because although no one is really hurt by them, you are still in a pickle and need to go out of your way to clean up a big pile of crap.

(Source: www.tutorials.com/tutorial_images/05/0549/05491bg.gif)

I had two of those situations today. First, I got e-mail from the supervisor for our school newspaper saying that I did not make the corrections for the pages that were due to the print press today. As a result, one of the other editors had to make corrections and go out of his way. But to my defense, I had stopped by my supervisor's office the other day to pick up my pages for corrections (because I knew that I would be busy in the evening), and they were not ready. I agreed to have one of the other editor's pick them up and bring them up to the office. Well, when 6:00 rolled around, I went up to the office before dinner to make my corrections, and they weren't there. I wasn't going to wait until after 8 to do the corrections because the last time I did that, they were done for me, much to my chagrin. I ended up proofreading my pages by myself and took care of what I needed to. I also called one of the editors to let him know the situation, but he did not respond back nor acknowledge that he got my message. This is a sticky situation because I made an effort to try to take care of business, but that did not happen because of the actions of other people and a lack of communication.

Another example happened today before my Core 9 class with Br. Rob. I was headed out the door at about 9:50 to make my class when my roommate caught my attention and asked me to wait for him so we could walk to class together. That decision was costly, as we arrived about a minute late to class and had to wait outside until after a presentation was given (we walked in around 10:15!). I did not want to be rude and interrupt one of my fellow classmates during their presentation because it was a significant part of our grade. Once again, I was affected by the decisions of another person. Now I have to worry if Br. Rob is going to count this offense as an absence or not, which could affect my grade.

I guess the bottom line is that I just need to stay focused and worry about my own arse instead of what is convenient for other people. Although being nice to other people is important to me, sometimes I need to draw a line, because it is kicking me in the groin right now. In the end, I'm the one who gives in to what other people want.

Time Flies

Well, I did not run as well as I wanted to this past Saturday at my Cross Country meet. I ran about a minute and a half slower than what I wanted to do, and, as a result, I think my season is done. I did not make the top seven (which I knew I wouldn't), and this last race just punctuated the situation. I can't get too down on myself because no one ran spectacular on Saturday, but I still wanted to show everyone that I certainly deserved to be at that meet by running awesome. But, even though my season is over, I am thankful that I got to participate in the meet, and now I will enjoy some much needed time off.

It's amazing how time flies. No, seriously, think about it. It seems just like a month ago that we got off for summer break and I was getting ready to begin another summer of rigorous training for cross country. I trained very hard and really enjoyed my summer, and now, the culmination of my hard work (my participation in the GLVC conference meet on Saturday) has come and gone. Wow. The five month journey is over. It's kind of shocking; it really is. I am somewhat speechless because I have a week or two off to recover from all the pounding and stress from the season, and I will be doing nothing. I mean, don't get me wrong, I plan on getting a lot of schoolwork done, but it's just going to be weird being away from my team while they train to run deeper into the "post season," per se, of collegiate distance running.

But, even though this feeling is bitter sweet, I am satisfied with how the season went. Granted, i wanted to run a lot better, but I worked really hard and I had fun with my teammates. I knew that I never was going to be a Steve Prefontaine or what not, but I sacrificed just like my teammates did. To be honest, I really think that I will enjoy this recovery period in a few days, after the realization that my collegiate cross country eligibility is finished. Now I can just relax and focus on being a college student and getting a job. I mean, that's what I am here for, right?

Gotta Love Saturdays

This weekend could be good for a variety of reasons:

1. I am competing at our conference cross country meet. I am definitely excited, and I have a shot at improving my 5-mile time by almost a minute. Hopefully that happens. If it does, I will be on cloud nine for a good three or four days. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time.

2. Homecoming is on Saturday. We should be getting back from our meet around 12 or 1 considering the fact that it is in Indianapolis and the drive is about an hour and a half. So the plan is to get back, take a shower, and hit up the Beer and Brat tent, and potentially walk on the field at half time because I will be homecoming king. But I don't want to get ahead of myself, so I think I can just expect to have fun anyway.

3. The festivities after the Homecoming football game will be great because I will get to hang out with a bunch of alumni and really share in a good time with my friends for one of the last times of my senior year. Hopefully everyone is safe!

4. We could have practice off on Sunday and Monday. So I definitely plan on sleeping in!

5. I want to get my Halloween costume sometime this weekend as well. I am thinking Borat or one of the Reservoir Dogs. Thoughts anyone?

Vindicated!

For once in my life, I can honestly say that I stood up for myself came out on top. And it really wasn't that painful!

Last Thursday, our cross country coach listed off the individuals who were going to travel to compete in this weekend's Great Lakes Valley Conference Cross Country Championship. Knowing that I had worked hard over the whole summer and that coach never said directly that he was going to travel only seven individuals, I was confident that I was going to travel with the team to this meet. (For those of you who are unfamiliar with cross country, you need seven runners to compete in a race; the top five score, and the other two serve as back-ups in case someone in the top five chokes or just has a bad race.) So when practice rolled around and coach listed off the names of the individuals, I kept listening attentively until I would hear my name, and then breathe with a sigh of relief. Well, that moment never came. I was speechless. I had a feeling that maybe he might make cuts for the travel squad for the meet, but I knew that more than likely he would travel me because I busted my ass off in practice every day. I waited for him to potentially correct himself by saying "Oh yah, and I almost forgot you Coz!", but that didn't happen either.

Needless to say, when we began our lite run for the evening, I kind of went off on my own. How could this happen to me? Even though coach was traveling eight individuals instead of seven, the seventh and eighth man on the team were so close in practice and in races that he needed to wait one more meet before he made the final cuts for the NCAA regional meet (at conference meets, you can run at least nine individuals in the race). I was the odd man out, at least that is what I believed. I felt so cold and alone, and I just wanted to feel sorry for myself.

Luckily, one of my fellow teammates, Cory, caught up with me on the run and acknowledged the fact that I was one of the hardest workers on the team and that I certainly deserved to compete at our conference meet. He also suggested that I go and talk to coach about the situation; I really had nothing to lose.

So the next morning, I went into coach's office, and stated my case. Much to my delight, coach recognized that I was one of the hardest workers on the men's team and that "in his heart," he wanted me to go, but, "as an administrator," he had to draw a line, especially when it came to budget issues and the like with the athletic department. So I told him I understood and thanked him for the opportunity for the past three years to let me run cross country and how much the sport has changed my life. After it was all said and done, coach said that he would have a decision for me later that day at practice.

When practice rolled around, I did not decide to address the issue because I wanted to wait until after Saturday's workout for him to change his mind. Saturday was going to be a challenging day, considering the fact that we were doing repeat miles on the track (4). Thank God, I had a great workout that day, and coach even gave me a compliment. I tried asking him again about his final decision, but I spoke so softly that he didn't hear me, and so I decided to wait until Monday's practice because Monday was going to be a moderate type of workout.

So after Monday's practice, I finally went up to coach and asked him what his final decision was. "Yah, you're going." Justice had been served! It was an awesome feeling, and I let out a yelp of jubilation when no one was looking. My hard work and confidence worked out for me, and now I will be counting down the hours until the gun goes off at 8:30 on Saturday morning.

The bottom line is that sometimes I think God reminds us that we are in control of our own destiny. Even though some things may not work out the way we want them to, we should still try our best to do what we think is right if we believe we are being short-changed. I did that, and it paid off. Thanks Coach Massoels! You won't be disappointed.

Renovations and Pearl Jam

I am currently sitting in the newly-renovated library basement, and I think it looks awesome. It looks totally differently; I feel like I am in a public library in downtown Columbus or any other semi-important city in the midwest. The lighting down here is great, there is air conditioning, and if you really want to get some work done, it is very quiet (I think because a majority of students are stilll not aware that it is open to the public now).

Regardless, this new library speaks volumes (pun intended) about the direction that the Joe is headed. Even though it will probably not get all completed on time, the renovations here at the College should get anyone excited, even those seniors who are leaving soon. I love the new football stadium. The wrought-iron gate encompassing it is nothing that special but still gives the field a new look. The new offices up in the Scharf Fieldhouse look like they will be quite accomodating for athletic personnel. The theatre looks magnificent, especially with the new chairs and murals on the walls. Noll Hall looks more like a hotel than a 50-year-old dorm, and even Merlini has begun to eliminate its "forgotten child" look to it with the drop ceiling and new carpet.

Granted, SJC still has a long way to go before I would recommend it to 100 of my personal friends (particularly because of the administrative personnel and student-advisor issues), but I think it is getting a whole lot better than when I first stepped foot on campus three years ago.


Now for a random note, I just had that "Hearts and Thoughts" song by Pearl Jam stuck in my head all day. Yeah, I know that is not the actual title of the song, but it sounds short and sweet. So I uploaded it for your personal enjoyment (kudos to Youtube)!

Job Security

Yikes! It's already October of my senior year of college, and I still don't have a clear-cut idea about what I want to do when I get out of the Joe. I mean, I know I want to do something in Sports Information at a Division I institution, but who knows if that idea will ever come to fruition. The bottom line is that I need to get rolling on some things!

I have a feeling that I am never really going to fully appreciate the Joe until after I leave. I say that because it has flown by sooo fast. I remember what one of my mother's friends told me when I had graduated from high school: that college flies by. Boy, was she right. I have enjoyed my time here, but the really scary thing is wondering what I am going to do when I leave this place. It's scary because you strive towards understanding a particular discipline in college, but you may not fully use your understanding of that discipline in your final career as an adult in the real world. It's that uncertainty of the future that is weird.

But I guess instead of being worried about the future and what job I am going to fulfill six months down the road, I just need to worry about what I've accomplished today. Although that is easier said than done, its crucial for me to realize that if I want to enjoy these next few months. I have been blessed with great friends and a spectacular opportunities to be involved on campus. Life is definitely a roller coaster ride, and it will throw you off if you don't hold on tight (all apologies to Darryl Worley).

*Picture above extrapolated from http://artfiles.art.com

Sports Can Actually Mean Something

( http://www.gazette.com/pictures/1191343346-0rockiesslide.jpg)

Ah, the playoffs are finally here! The World Series is only two weeks away. I am pumped! I have been waiting for this for the past two months, and now I can just smell, through my television screen, the stitchings on a baseball. The intensity is even more than it was during the regular season, and there is so much on the table. I love it!

A good friend of mine once said that he was really unaffected by what happened in the world of sports, and for good reason. I mean, what does it matter to my friend, a senior in college, if the Colorado Rockies win 15 of their last 16 games and make the playoffs? He still has to go to class, and, at the end of the day, his life will probably remain the same.

But to me, what happens in the world of sports can have a significant impact on what goes on in my daily life. Granted, sports are definitely low on the totem pole, far below God, family, friends and such. But what happens on the grid iron, court, or diamond, can do enough to cheer me up when I'm feeling down and give me hope that sometimes, the cards can be dealt in favor of the "good guy," the home team. I feel a person connection with that home team, cause I feel I am that "good guy" who will one day achieve his great purpose in life.

In recent memory, there have been two instances where the outcome of a sports contest lifted up my spirits. The first was on New Year's Day 2007, when Boise State upset Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. That particular evening, I was upset because I found out that one of the girls I liked was no longer single. My spirits were low, I was stunned, and I did not know what to do. However, watching Boise State miraculously come back and beat Oklahoma pumped me up, and it made the situation I was in easier to digest, and, eventually, I got over it.

The second instance was just this past Monday, when the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres in dramatic, 13-inning fashion. Earlier that evening, I came to the conclusion that Zora, the girl I liked, really was not interested in me. I was kind of bummed, and was in a position of uncertainty. I decided to watch the game on television to try to liven up. I thought the Rockies were going to lose after being down two at the top of the 14th inning, but their comeback was downright awesome and somehow inspired me to put forth my best efforts in all that I do and not be discouraged by the troubles of women.

Looking Young

I've pretty much accepted the fact that I look like I am 12 years old. Well, wait a minute...I'll give myself some credit. 16. That at least puts me in the teens. At first glance, one would say that I have a long way to go before I am 22 and can walk with pride into a bar or pub, ready to mingle with disgruntled sports fans or some very beautiful women. I cannot deny the fact that I look young for my age. A few years back (even as recent as a few months ago...), I grew frustrated with the fact that I looked about six years younger than I actually was. I would grind my teeth with angst as a fast food worker or even a senile, old person would call me "boy." I HATED that.

I remember when I was on Spring Break last year. I was sitting on a bus to take me back to the Cancun airport, and I was seated behind a couple of assholes. The duo, a man and woman, had their seats cocked back as far as they could. At first, I did not feel like saying anything, because I was the only person on that bus who had two seats to himself and my seating arrangement behind these two people did not bother me that much. That is, until we arrived at the airport. I had taken a nap and, upon waking up to get off the bus, the man in the seats in front of me said, "Someone needs to wake this boy up." I did not think much of his comment then, but about five minutes after I got off the bus, I was royally pissed. That guy was an asshole--he really was! Not only did he feel that he was king of the world by putting his seats as far back as possible so he could situatehimself, he decided to make a comment about me. I wish I would have said something to him! From that moment on, I was on a mission to not be second-guessed because of my youthful visage.

For the most part, I have not been hasseled as much as I thought for looking young, especially when I go into bars down in Lafayette or in Chicago. On occasion I might get a smart-aleck comment or dubious stare from a drunken idiot inside a bar, but I have been pleased with how I have been viewed in the social scene. In fact, some of my friends have a harder time getting into bars and clubs than I do, and they look much older...especially with their beards and expensive cologne. One specific episode I remember was from a Tigers game over the summer. My friend Paul and I went to go grab a few Bud Lights from a nearby kiosk, and, when one of the concession ladies told me she thought I looked like I was 22, that totally made my evening. I even said "God Bless You!" My self-esteem was that much better.

So I guess looking young is not all that bad. I think people are beginning to realize that if I have the intestinal fortitude to go into a bar or club, I sure as hell better be of age. And, on the bright side, I will probably look young for my age when I am 50 or 60, considering my current healthy lifestyle. But, if someone that I don't know tries to call me "boy" or sarcastically ask how old I am, I respond with some expletives or greatly exaggerate how old or young I really think they are!

Matchbox 20 is back....

I am very pleased that Matchbox 20 has finally decided to come back to the spotlight after a three or four-year hiatus. The album Exile on Mainstream finally hit stores this week and I think I am going to purchase it sometime within the next few days.

I like to think I am a loyal Matchbox 20 fan, considering the fact that I have to defend such a musical preference against the smartass comments from my colleagues. Although Rob Thomas can whine a lot, the music that the band promotes is easy to understand and well-written. Every song that has been on the radio for Matchbox 20 (e.g. "Push," "Mad Season," "Bent," and "Unwell") is relatively meaningful and more deep than certain rap songs that talk about "ass and titties." I am indeed a fan of rap myself, but a band like Matchbox 20 writes music that either gets the listener thinking or just makes them want to rock out for a few minutes. Rob Thomas has established himself as an excellent songwriter. He has several Grammys from his solo career and one or two with this band. I am glad that he is brining his talents back to the band that made him famous. Now I just have to wait until they put out their tour dates.

Not "giving up," but....

To refresh the memory of all of my loyal blog fans (yes I know there are thousands of you out there!), I am currently trying to hang out with this girl on our volleyball team (codename: Zora) and just see what progresses. I stated in my first blog that I needed to "grow some cajones" and just ask her out on a date and what not. Well, after several weeks of effort on my part, I think I am going to take a break for awhile in seriously trying to pursue her. And I think I have good reason to.

First, this girl is tremendously busy. Participating in any Division II athletic program is not exactly a piece of cake. It takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication on part of the athlete. I know; I am one of them. This season for some of the upperclassmen on the volleyball team has been frustrating because a lot of freshman are given preference, and it seems that the hard work of the juniors and seniors is unrewarded. I think that is the case with this girl, at least somewhat.

Besides being involved in Division II athletics, she is also a very active member of her church community (one of the reasons why I like her) and organizes retreats for young parish members. This noble endeavor takes a lot of time as well, so she sometimes leaves on the weekends to go attend to those matters, which is respectable.

Second, it seems that every time I try to hang out or talk to her, it either seems awkward or might not even happen at all. Whenever I talk to her online she is busy working on homework or she is about to leave for practice. I was never really good with timing when talking to people online; sometimes I will just IM freely without considering what time it is, which results in people having to log off because they are truly very busy and need to get there shit done (pardon the expression).

I've also experienced some bad luck while trying to talk to this girl. I've tried organizing a dinner date or two, but I have had to cancel both of them because I had unexpected meetings pop-up or what not. I invited her to go the mentalist here last week, but she had a lot of homework and was very stressed out. There have also been times where I have tried to call her or text message her, and I don't get a response back. Most of the time it is because my calls or text messages do not register at all! It's like God is trying to tell me to lay off or what not.

So that's what I am going to do. I am going to lay off for awhile. I'm just going to try to hang out with her and see what happens and maybe when her season and my cross country season are over, there will be more time to go out on dates or what not. But for now, I just need to sit along and enjoy the ride. Good stuff happens when you least expect it.

Wedding Bell Blues

I was sitting outside the Cafe yesterday with my friends Dave and Tom, when Dave asked me if I was going to attend the wedding of one of our friends, Jessica. When I gave him a quizzical look and asked if it was a "Facebook invitation," he took out the invitation in his backpack to demonstrate that guests were truly hand-picked. After he apologized for not intentionally trying to rub it in my face, I responded to the tune of " I better get an invitation, or I am going to be [expletive] pissed!"

At first I didn't let the situation but a damper on my day. For all I knew, I had not received an invitation because I had not seen Jessica or at least had an intelligent conversation with her in almost a week. I figured maybe once we exchanged pleasantries for an extended period of time, she would remember to hand me an invitation to her wedding. I also figured that maybe the only reason Dave received an invite is because his best friend, Laura, is also best friends with Jessica. Dave also told me that you weren't expected to bring a date to this occasion, so maybe her invitation process was very selective. I figured that several of my other roommates would not get invited because they never really hung out with Jessica or were part of her so-called "clique." However, I found out this assumption was incorrect because I saw another invitation to the wedding in my roommate Matt's folder when he opened it to retrieve notes for our psychology class.

I immediately became somewhat insulted again because I had known Jessica since freshman year and have held several interesting conversations with her throughout my college career. Heck, I was even a leader on one of the retreats she was on while here at the Joe. I felt like I would be the odd man out, sitting on my ass next Fourth of July weekend while most of my roommates were out reuniting and celebrating without me.

But then I quickly remembered what Dave's initial response to me was when I stated that I would be angry if I was not invited to the wedding: "Why?" When he asked that, I really didn't elaborate on why I would be angry, and, even now, I still can't. And that made me really think about the friendship that I had with Jessica. Even though I had talked to her throughout college, we weren't exactly "best friends" who hung out every weekend. Now that I think about it, I was her friend through someone else. I think I have only hung out in her room a few times, and sometimes I would only see her if she came to our apartment if we were hosting a social function. I hardly talk to her online and sometimes I don't see her at all during lecture. Even when I start conversation with her at the bar, I keep finding myself trying to catch up with her.

That being said, I certainly cannot be angry, bitter, or insulted for not being invited to her wedding. A person's wedding is a special time in his/her respective lifetime, and it should only be reserved for those people who really touched lives. When it is all said and done and I leave St. Joseph's College, there are going to be many weddings that I have not and will not be invited to, simply because people have their respective groups of friends whom they depend on for moral support through thick and thin. Although I try to help people as much as I can, I am still only an acquaintance for some people. For the 1500+ people I know on Facebook, I am probably only true friends with less than three percent of them. And those are the people who are my moral support and who will certainly be invited to my wedding.

So instead of complaining and feeling personally affronted, I should be happy for the great adventure which Jessica and her fiance are going to embark upon. I am sure I will keep them in my prayers and mind when they have their wedding. And, who knows, maybe I will get invited to the wedding; it is over 7 months away. But I will be happy for them, regardless of attendance.

Pain

A wise T-shirt saying once read "Pain is weakness leaving the body." More and more I am beginning to feel that adage is very true. Coming from a cross country runner, pain is something that I can expect everyday of my life. Whether I wake up at 6:00 AM to run four miles or show up to practice by the rec center for an evening run of 8 miles or more, I can be sure that I will be hurting before I lay down to rest. This particular week is going to be extremely long. Since we do not have a meet this weekend, our coach has assured us that he will "beat the crap out of us" in workouts. Today I ran the worst I have all year in a workout; several of the girls even beat me in one of the intervals...that's pathetic! I'm better than that!
The so-called "weakness" that leaves my body does so in such an excruciating fashion that I feel just like falling on the ground when I hit my stop watch to signal the completion of a workout or race. But in the end, it's worth it. That's when I realize that I have seen another T-shirt that has read "Pain is temporary; victory is forever." I like to think that adage has some validity to it as well. I just need to keep truckin' and get really serious about running again. It's who I am.

“Clutch”

A home-run
In the bottom of the ninth,
A personal record at the state meet,
A buzzer-beater in Indianapolis,
A Web-gem, tackle-for a loss,
Or dive in front of the puck
A stolen base with two-outs left,
A smiling face for those in distress,
A Hail-Mary
In the game’s closing seconds,
An impromptu speech
Or presentation
To the Board of Directors.
An interception
Returned for a TD.
A prayer said
For someone who is dying
Or a shoulder for someone
Who is crying.
Sparknotes
For when you forgot
To read This Boy’s Life.

To be clutch
Is to come through
When under pressure,
To give everything
When you know you don’t have much
To pay attention to small details,
To love those who need love,
To make big plays
When big plays are needed,
To get the job done.

HEL(L)

THIS IS A COMMUNITY SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.

For all those bold enough to take Dr. Garrity's History of the English Language (a.k.a H.e.L(L)), then you are in for quite the roller coaster ride. Let's just say I haven't even taken a test for the man in that class, and I feel like I am in for quite an arduous, academic endeavor. It's not a foreign language like Russian or Japanese, it's Old English--something 10 times worse! It seems that every class is Dr. Garrity reading and students just listening with befuddled looks on their faces as they try to understand how "sceoled" is supposed to mean "Shield" and "wolcnum" is supposed to mean "skies." I feel like I should call Dr. Brown of Back to the Future fame and travel back in time so that I could kidnap Chaucer and make him my personal translator. But for the most part, I'm just going to have to settle with my own voice as I struggle to make meaning of the words. Oh well, such is life. I wish I would have taken German in high school...

Credit Cards

The ability to own a credit card is both a blessing and a curse. I just got done reviewing my statement for the past month, and, lo and behold, I am at about $600. Ouch! That really sucks considering that I want to save up for spring break and what not. I will definitely be able to pay off the bill without worrying about interest, but it will severely inhibit my ability to lead the hectic social life that I do. But whatever, money is money, and I am really trying to go out with a bang this school year. I've really tried to not worry about my financial status too much. As long as I stay a few hundred bucks above broke, I'm O.K. I've realized that in year's past my frugal methods were most definitely good, but maybe not as fun. So this year I'm letting it all hang out (for the most part). Bars. Cub's games. Novel posters and other decor for the apartment. Running accoutrements. Dates. Good and bad movies. BusyBee. Barbecues. It's a great test of balance and moderation, and so far I am up to the challenge.

Sleeping Vs. Drinking

Being a college student, especially one embarking on his senior year, desperately trying to avoid thinking about enjoying the so-called "real world" after graduation, I've realized that there is another dilemma which college students must deal with: drinking or sleeping. By drinking I mean imbibing alcoholic beverages so as to instigate conversation and revel in a plethora of worthwhile memories with colleagues. By sleeping I mean choosing to crash early and recharge for another day's exciting ventures. The first choice is popular; the second less attractive yet beneficial to one's overall health.
This past weekend I decided to engage in the latter of those two choices. And let me tell you, it was worth it. I do feel recharged and somewhat motivated, something I haven't felt ever since I arrived on campus a few weeks ago. Sometimes it's not a bad idea to quell the stereotypical-college-student desire to revel in a drunken stupor. Rather, getting rest can often remind someone what the real purpose of coming to college is: getting an education. I also have a tough workout today that will most definitely bring me to my knees, so I need all the energy I can get. Sometimes "takin' care of business" means being practical, putting personal whims aside.

Mind over matter

Being a cross country runner is not exactly an easy thing. Granted, I know that I am not in a Division I program with coaching staffs that practically "own" you as a person, but still the sport is tough. And lately I feel like I have been in a funk. Hell, I've been in one since freakin' July, ever since I got jumped at a Live/Collective Soul concert by some bare-chested hillbillies. That episode resulted in an injured wrist that sidelined my lifting capabilities for a little bit. Fortunately, my legs were still feeling good and I put in a good amount of summer training. But ever since I have been back at school I feel I haven't pulled out a good workout (or race, for that matter) in a long time.
Is it fatigue from the rigorous training regimen that coach puts us through? The stress of classes? Lack of sleep? Typical "high school" SJC drama? I don't know, but something has got to give. It has too. I busted my ass this summer too much for me to just endure practices and not get anything out of them. This is my last year; I need to make it count. It's gonna hurt. Running always sucks, but afterwards, you feel fantastic. I just need to keep training hard and hoping that I can pull out a good race or workout these next few weeks. I want it. I need it. I know I have it inside of me, but it's an issue of mind over matter.

Growing some Cajones

Well, I figured if I wanted to have a flashy title for my first blog entry, I might as well throw in a catchy Spanish title. Sitting at this computer, two things are swirling through my cranium: thanksgiving and regret. I am thankful because I finally finished all the reading from Dispatches from Blogistan. I thought it would take me forever, but it only took about an hour. Kudos to catchy, topical, and not too small font.
On a more somber note, I am lingering in a sense of regret. Well, maybe just me wanting to kick myself--that type of feeling. Ever since last year, I've wanted to date this girl on campus, who shall be named Zora (just to protect the innocent, mind you!). I starting having feelings for Zora back in October of 2006. However, I was hanging out with this other girl from the University of St. Francis at the time as well. Against the advice of some of my closer friends, I chose to hang out with this St. Francis girl for a bit instead of trying to talk to Zora. Well, things kind of ended on a bad note with this other girl and by the time I wanted to ask Zora out on the a date she already had a boyfriend. Although she broke up with him in March, I decided to wait until this year to really try my luck again. Yet despite my intentions, I am back at where I started.
I don't really know what to do. Movie? Dinner? Casual conversation? Nintendo Wii? Just worrying about getting rejected sends chills through my spine, but those feelings are relinquished once I realize that, if I go out on a limb and it turns out to be pretty sturdy, the reward will be worthwhile. I guess I just have to be myself and see what happens; I know I have a shot. I'm pretty amicable (give or take a few rough edges), and care tremendously about all of my friends, she being one of them. I just gotta go with what Genie says to Aladdin ("Just Beeee yourself!") Let's face it, one is not a part of the "Man Club" unless they experience rejection. So I guess it's a win-win liberation--companionship vs. a renewable sense of confidence.